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Top Iraqi tribal and rebel leader says 'revolution' will topple PM

June 24, 2014 at 10:03 am

Head of the council of tribal rebels in Al-Anbar Province and top Sunni leader Sheikh Ali Hatem Suleiman affirmed that what he called the Iraqi revolution would continue until the ouster of the outgoing Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki.

Speaking at a press conference held in the city of Arbil, the provincial capital of Northern Iraq, Suleiman warned Iraqi MPs, who won what he called “forged” elections, of entering the parliament or negotiating the formation of any so-called “national unity government”.

He called any such measure a “betrayal” of the revolution. “We call for setting up a new social contract that guarantees the rights of all Iraqis, with minorities at the top,” he said, “and to stick to the principle of tolerance and excluding the spirit of revenge and terrorism.”

Suleiman refused any external interference in Iraq and stressed respecting the interests of all Iraqis. Meanwhile, he called for all to recognise the legitimacy of the revolution.

The prominent tribal leader called for the Iraqi tribes in the south of the country to stand against oppression and corruption and to take part in the revolution. He blamed the international community, mainly the UN, for encouraging sectarian incitement by Al-Maliki and his militias.

He also called for the rebels to protect the holy places and not to target them because Al-Maliki’s government is trying to use the protection of holy places as a pretext to target the revolution.

About the visit of US Secretary of State John Kerry to Baghdad, Suleiman denied any contact or discussions with Kerry, who reportedly met with Al-Maliki.