Iraq: Turkey is becoming hostile state

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki has said Turkey is becoming an enemy state in the region in a sign of growing tensions between Turkey and Iraq, Today's Zaman reported.

Maliki's harshest remarks so far came at a time when Turkey was hosting two senior Iraqi politicians who are at odds with his government. Leader of the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) Massoud Barzani arrived in Turkey for a two-day visit on Thursday and Iraq's fugitive Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi is currently in İstanbul.

"The latest statements of (Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip) Erdoğan are another return to the process of interfering in Iraqi internal affairs and it confirms that Mr. Erdoğan is still living the illusion of regional hegemony," Maliki said in a statement posted on his website, AFP news agency reported.

Maliki said it is regrettable that Erdoğan's statements have a sectarian dimension which he used to deny before but which have become clear, and are rejected by all Iraqis.

"Insisting on continuing these internal and regional policies will damage Turkey's interests and makes it a hostile state for all," Maliki said, AFP also reported.

Maliki and Erdoğan exchanged harsh accusations in previous months and ties between the two countries are seriously strained. Diverging positions in Syria and Turkey's support for Hashemi are main points dividing Ankara and Baghdad.

Erdoğan warned against the latest situation in Iraq in a press conference earlier this week and signaled a troubling trend in the war-torn country under the current prime minister. Erdoğan blames Maliki for excluding Sunnis from power structures.