Saudi Arabia and Qatar slam 'sectarian' policies in Iraq

The government of Saudi Arabia has released an official statement on Iraq's unrest, slamming the "sectarian and exclusionary policies implemented in Iraq over the past years that threatened its stability and sovereignty", in an apparent reference to anxiety over Iranian influence in Iraq.

Saudi relations with Maliki’s government have been strained.

Saudi Arabia also rejected plans for any foreign interference in Iraq.

Meanwhile, Qatar’s Foreign Minister told the state news agency late on Sunday that the marginalisation of Sunni Arabs had led to the current unrest.