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WORLD NEWSThursday 7 January 2016

Iraq offers to mediate between Saudi Arabia, Iran

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, right, and his Iraqi counterpart Ibrahim al-Jafari cate balancing act amid boycott Saudi goods.
depart after their joint press conference in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2016. al-Jaafari the latest regional turmoil. Russia also has offered itself
proposed mediation during a news conference in Tehran, but also referred to the execution of The Shiite-led government as a potential mediator,
Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr as a “crime.” in Baghdad relies on Ira- though it’s unclear wheth-
nian help to battle the ex- er Saudi or Iranian officials
(AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi) tremist Islamic State group, have responded to the
but is also trying to repair proposal. Zarif, meanwhile,
ALI AKBAR DAREINI The standoff has seen Sau- mediation during a news ties to oil-rich Saudi Arabia, blamed Saudi Arabia for
JON GAMBRELL di Arabia sever diplomatic conference in Tehran, but which last week sent an exacerbating the situation.
Associated Press ties with its longtime region- also referred to the execu- ambassador to Baghdad “We have treated these
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iraq al rival and could hinder ef- tion of Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr for the first time in 25 years. actions with magnanimity
on Wednesday offered to forts to resolve the conflicts as a “crime.” Saudi Arabia Speaking alongside Iranian and nobleness but unfortu-
mediate between Saudi in Syria and Yemen, where and its allies say al-Nimr Foreign Minister Moham- nately our neighbor, Saudi
Arabia and Iran after ten- Riyadh and Tehran back was found guilty of terror- mad Javad Zarif, al-Jaaf- Arabia, did not respond to
sions soared following the opposite sides, as well as ism charges, and that con- ari said Iraq’s place in the it properly,” he said. “The
kingdom’s execution of a affect the implementation demnations of the execu- heart of the Middle East al- process of provoking ten-
Shiite cleric and attacks on of the Iran nuclear deal. tion amount to meddling in lows it to play a role in try- sion must be stopped.”
two Saudi diplomatic posts Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibra- Riyadh’s internal affairs. ing to “alleviate tensions.” The diplomatic standoff
in the Islamic Republic. him al-Jaafari proposed Iraq has undertaken a deli- “This responsibility has between Iran and Saudi
been given to us and we Arabia began Saturday,
have been active from the when the kingdom execut-
early moments to lessen ed al-Nimr and 46 others
tensions to prevent a di- convicted of terror charges
saster from happening that — the largest mass execu-
could affect the entire re- tion it has carried out since
gion,” he said. Back in Iraq, 1980. Iranian protesters re-
however, thousands of sponded by attacking the
Iranian-backed Shiite mili- Saudi Arabia’s embassy in
tiamen marched in Bagh- Tehran and its consulate
dad and across the south in Mashhad. Late Sunday,
to protest the execution of Saudi Arabia announced
al-Nimr. Qais al-Khazali, the it was severing relations
head of the powerful Asaib with Iran because of the
Ahl al-Haq militia, gave assaults. On Wednesday,
a speech in the southern Iranian diplomats in Saudi
city of Basra in which he Arabia returned to Tehran,
called on Baghdad to cut according to state media.
diplomatic ties with Saudi Since Saudi Arabia sev-
Arabia, expel the newly ered ties to Iran, a host of its
arrived ambassador and allies have cut or reduced
their ties as well. Among
IS steps up assault on west Iraqi town after losses those is Bahrain, which said
Wednesday it had broken
SUSANNAH GEORGE the past three days and lowing that victory a week cide attackers driving cars up a Shiite militant group
Associated Press another 30 wounded, ac- ago, U.S. officials said the loaded with explosives backed by the Lebanese
BAGHDAD (AP) — The Is- cording to Iraqi officials. extremist group has lost 40 approached the town Hezbollah and the Iranian
lamic State group has The attacks come after percent of its territory in Iraq from three fronts, while Revolutionary Guard.
stepped up attacks on Iraqi forces aided by U.S.- and 20 percent in Syria. other militants fired mor- Bahrain’s Interior Ministry
the western Iraqi town of led airstrikes drove IS mili- Coalition officials briefing tar rounds at the nearby accused the suspects of
Haditha, where at least 45 tants out of the city center journalists on Wednesday al-Asad air base, home to receiving $20,000 from He-
Iraqi security forces and of Ramadi, the capital of described a multi-pronged some 450 foreign coalition zbollah leader Hassan Nas-
Sunni tribal fighters have the sprawling Anbar prov- attack on Haditha begin- forces, none of whom were rallah, and of having links
been killed in clashes over ince west of Baghdad. Fol- ning early this week. IS sui- wounded in the attack.q to those behind a July 2015
bombing that killed two
police officersq