M'sia Calls For End To Sectarian Violence In Iraq

KUALA LUMPUR, March 1 (Bernama) - Malaysia, Wednesday called for an end to violence in Iraq, with ethnic and sectarian leaders engaging in peaceful talks, aiming for national reconciliation. In making the call, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi said: "I am extremely and gravely concerned with the latest developments in Iraq because the increasing scale of violence is dangerously escalating into a situation which could become beyond control. "On behalf of the government and people of Malaysia, I would like to appeal to the people of Iraq, particularly the ethnic and sectarian leaders in Iraq, to do everything possible and constructive to put an end to all violence, engage in peaceful discussions and earnestly establish a process of national reconciliation. "In my capacity as Chairman of the Summit Conference of the Organisation of Islamic Conference (OIC), and on behalf of the member countries of the organisation, I would like to extend this same appeal to the Iraqi Transitional Government," he said in a statement. Abdullah said it was not impossible for the people of Iraq to achieve a genuine and workable national accord.

The bombing of a Shiite mosque in Samarra last Wednesday had unleashed a wave of Shiite reprisals against Iraq's Sunni minority, with over 400 killed, by the authorities' reckoning, pitching Iraq towards a civil war. On Tuesday, a series of bombings killed 64 people, including 25 in a car bomb outside a Baghdad Shiite mosque, raising fears of fresh violence in Iraq. "I hope the people of Iraq would consider it beneficial to establish a government of national unity. I have no doubt that the power to do so lies in the hands of the people of Iraq. I pray that the people of Iraq will not look upon compromises in negotiations only as a last resort, but apply that approach as the first preference in their deliberations," Abdullah said. The Prime Minister said he had great faith that the vast majority of the people of Iraq did not wish their country to be divided and their people fragmented along ethnic and sectarian lines.

"The people of Malaysia fully support these sentiments. Living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society, Malaysians understand the imperative for mutual respect between racial groups and harmonious co-existence between religions," he said. Abdullah said Malaysians have no other wish but to see the early dawning of peace, stability and prosperity for the people of Iraq. Malaysians, he noted, wished to see Iraq take its rightful place in the international community of nations with the confidence and dignity that it deserves. The Prime Minister said Malaysia would like to engage Iraq in cordial and cooperative relations for mutual benefit and it stands ready to assist in whatever way deemed appropriate by the leaders of Iraq. Abdullah said the international community too has an urgent responsibility to help preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq for the sake of the people of Iraq.

Following is the full statement by the Prime Minister on the current situation in Iraq:

"I am extremely and gravely concerned with the latest developments in Iraq because the increasing scale of violence is dangerously escalating into a situation which could become beyond control. In my capacity as the Prime Minister of Malaysia, and on behalf of the Government and people of Malaysia, I would like to appeal to the people of Iraq, particularly the ethnic and sectarian leaders in Iraq, to do everything possible and constructive to put an end to all violence, engage in peaceful discussions and earnestly establish a process of national reconciliation.

In my capacity as Chairman of the Summit Conference of the Organisation of Islamic Conference, and on behalf of the member countries of the Organisation, I would like to extend this same appeal to the Iraqi Transitional Government. I sincerely believe that it is not impossible for the people of Iraq to achieve a genuine and workable national accord. I hope the people of Iraq would consider it beneficial to establish a government of national unity. I have no doubt that the power to do so lies in the hands of the people of Iraq. I pray that the people of Iraq will not look upon compromises in negotiations only as a last resort but apply that approach as the first preference in their deliberations. I have great faith that the vast majority of the people of Iraq do not wish their country to be divided and their people fragmented along ethnic and sectarian lines. The people of Malaysia fully support these sentiments. Living in a multi-racial and multi-religious society, Malaysians understand the imperative for mutual respect between racial groups and harmonious co-existence between religions.

The people of Malaysia have no other wish but to see the early dawning of peace, stability and prosperity for the people of Iraq. We wish to see Iraq take its rightful place in the international community of nations with the confidence and dignity that it deserves. Malaysia would like to engage Iraq in cordial and cooperative relations for mutual benefit. Malaysia stands ready to assist in whatever way deemed appropriate by the leaders of Iraq. The international community too has an urgent responsibility to help preserve the territorial integrity of Iraq for the sake of the people of Iraq."

Office of the Prime Minister of Malaysia

Putrajaya

1 March 2006

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M'sia Calls For End To Sectarian Violence In Iraq

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