AKIPRESS.COM - Saudi Arabia and Qatar destabilize Iraq by supporting militants and practically declared war against the country, Agence France-Presse reported citing Prime Minister of Iraq Nouri al-Maliki.

Qatar and Saudi Arabia attack Iraq through Syria and directly, he continued. He also blamed these two countries for the unstable situation in Iraq and terrorist activity. However, Nouri al-Maliki did not provide any evidence to the statements.

Clashes are ongoing in Iraq due to a conflict between Shia and Sunni Muslims.

On 7 March 2014, Saudi Arabia decided to classify several Islamist groups, including the Muslim Brotherhood, Al-Nusra Front and Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant as terrorist organizations. The authorities gave their citizens 15 days to return home from conflict zones to avoid arrest and persecution in Saudi Arabia for terrorism.

Qatar, in turn, has repeatedly provided support for radical Islamists. At the beginning of March 2014, it led to a diplomatic conflict with Saudi Arabia.