RIYADH (Anadolu) – Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Friday met Iraqi cleric Ammar al-Hakim to discuss the lingering political crisis in Iraq.
The meeting came after the leader of Iraq’s Hikma Movement, a political coalition, arrived in the kingdom on an unannounced visit, according to the official Saudi Press Agency.
The agency reported that during the meeting, Saudi-Iraqi relations alongside a number of issues of common interest were discussed.
For his part, Hakim tweeted: “The Saudi crown prince and I emphasized the close historical relations between the two brotherly peoples.”
He added, “We discussed the importance of dialogue between the various parties to reach solutions to the current political impasse in Iraq.”
Al-Hakim stressed the importance of stability on both sides of the Persian Gulf and praised Iraq’s role in mediating between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore bilateral relations.
He also underlined the centrality of the Palestinian cause.
Hakim’s visit came after his participation on Wednesday in a national dialogue with the aim of resolving the country’s political crisis.
Iraq has been in a political deadlock for nine months following general elections last October, which has since failed to agree on a new government between rival parties.
Iraq’s Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhemi met party and other leaders on Wednesday to discuss the country’s political deadlock, but key player Moqtada Sadr, a firebrand cleric, did not attend.
Ten months after a general election, war-scarred Iraq still has no government, new prime minister or new president, because of disagreement over forming a coalition.
Tensions have been rising since July between the two main Shia factions, one led by Sadr, the other by the Coordination Framework. Attempts to mediate have so far proved fruitless.
Sadr wants parliament dissolved to pave the way for new elections, but the Coordination Framework wants to set conditions and demands a transitional government before new polls.
A statement from Kadhimi’s office said he had called a meeting on Wednesday “to start a serious dialogue; intending to find solutions to the current political crisis”.
The Coordination Framework was represented by two former premiers, Nuri al-Maliki and Haider al-Abadi.