Prime minister Erdoğan warns Allawi on civil war

ANKARA - Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey’s prime minister expressed concern over anti-democratic and sectarian movements in Iraq that could push the country into chaos, in a Jan. 12 phone conversation with Iraqiya leader Ayad Allawi.

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan warned that escalation of ongoing political tension in Iraq could cause a civil war and could have regional implications, Turkish officials said. Erdoğan underlined the importance of restoration of dialogue and confidence among parties in Iraq. Iraqiya should assume great responsibilities in these challenging days, he said, according to officials. Violence has simmered in Iraq in recent weeks amid a political standoff between al-Maliki’s Shiite-led government and the main Sunni-backed Iraqiya bloc.