Maliki: Gulf Countries Backing ISIL for Sectarian Reasons

Local Editor

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on Thursday accused neighboring states of backing a powerful extremist group that is operating in the country, the so-called "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant".

"Some states do not want ISIL, especially on their territory, but they want ISIL in Iraq for sectarian reasons," Maliki said in an interview on Iraqiya state television.

He further said: "We know the details of ISIL and its foreign ties and the ties of states to it, and the funding that comes to it."
The premier was apparently referring to the Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, Iraq's neighbor to the south.

Maliki said in the interview that except for Fallujah, Anbar province was under government control, though militants in fact hold areas outside the city.
Of the situation in Fallujah, he said: "God willing, it will end soon."
In parallel, the Iraqi top official highlighted that "elections will be held timing nor there is no possibility of postponement will be held as scheduled in all the provinces."

"The situation will be better than the previous sessions of the fact that elections were held in a position was more ill than the current situation," he said, noting that "card project of electronic integrated and elections will be fair and transparent and in all areas."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team