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Iraq's Jabor regrets attack on Saudi Arabia-paper

Posted on: Sunday, 9 October 2005, 03:29 CDT

DUBAI (Reuters) - Iraq's outspoken Shi'ite interior minister was quoted on Sunday as saying he hoped his verbal onslaught on Saudi Arabia would be a "passing summer cloud" and that ties between the two countries would remain strong.

Bayan Jabor had last week referred to Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Saud al-Faisal as a "bedouin riding camel" and slammed the kingdom's treatment of women and minority Shi'ites, forcing the Iraqi foreign minister to apologize to Saudi Arabia.

"I hope these statements and what has been said and written will be a passing summer cloud ... My statements have nothing to do with the Iraqi government," Jabor told Saudi-owned Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

"I respect very much, the wise and balanced Saudi policy which has always been calm and acceptable to all," he said, adding that his ministry will soon send a delegation to Saudi Arabia to discuss joint security matters with "Saudi brothers."

Jabor had lashed out at Faisal after he had warned of the influence of non-Arab, Shi'ite Iran in Iraq and the possibility of civil war between Sunnis and Shi'ites in the Arab country.

Like Saudi Arabia, other Sunni Muslim-ruled Gulf states fear rising tensions between Iraq's disgruntled Sunni minority and the Shi'ite majority could erupt into a war that could spill across their borders.

They are also worried that a proposed federal system in Iraq will further stoke sectarian tension.

In the interview, Jabor dismissed concerns of strife.

"We don't want a Shi'ite federal state. We want federalism along geographic lines. Federalism does not mean division but unifications. We are Arab Shi'ites and we are proud of our Arab, Islamic and Shi'ite identities

"We have not and will not follow anyone. As an interior minister I will not allow any Iranian to cross the border without a proper visa," he said.

On the internal security front, Jabor said there were 900 foreign Arab militants, down from between 2,500 to 3,000 three months ago. He said the ministry has not extradited any foreign militant and plans to try them in Iraqi courts instead.

Source: REUTERS

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