Sunni nations may lessen Iraq's Sunnis' anger

"[Iraq's Prime Minister Nuri] Maliki faces skepticism from Sunni Arab countries over his government’s close ties with the Shiite government in Iran, as well as doubts about whether his government can bring stability to the country, said a senior American official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because he was speaking before the discussions took place.
American officials are hopeful that by persuading other Arab governments to work closely with Mr. Maliki, they can reduce the hostility for the Iraqi government from Sunnis inside Iraq.
'What we need is for the regional players, like Jordan, and established players in the region, like Egypt, these broadly-based Sunni countries, to show that it recognizes the Maliki government,' the senior official said.
. . . At a regional conference in Baghdad last month, Mr. Maliki appealed for help from his neighbors to stem the violence in Iraq.
But only a few days later . . . the Arab League secretary general, Amr Moussa, said that the Iraqi government was responsible for defusing the sectarian violence, and that Iraq should revise its Constitution and rescind laws that give preferential treatment to Shiites and Kurds."

source
Cloud, David S. (The New York Times). Gates Will Try to Build Support for Iraqi Premier on Mideast Trip. April 17, 2007.

posted: saturday, april 21, 2007, 5:25 AM ET

tags: iraq maliki