Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite chieftain meets Jordanian leaders

Nov 16, 2009, 16:27 GMT

Amman - A prominent Iran-backed Iraqi Shiite leader conferred on Monday with Jordan's king Abdullah II and Prime Minister Nader Dahabi at the start of an Arab tour apparently designed to dampen fears of Sunni-dominated Arab countries over Tehran's reported interference in Iraqi affairs.

Ammar al-Hakim, chairman of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq (SCIRI), was assured by King Abdullah and Dahabi that Jordan would continue its 'backing of the Iraqi people's efforts aimed at restoring security and stability' through national reconciliation in the neighbouring country.

The Jordanian leaders praised the forthcoming Iraqi general elections in January as 'an important milestone in the Iraqi political process,' provided that it involved all shades of the Iraqi political spectrum.

Dahabi expressed Jordan's rejection of any intervention in internal Iraqi affairs as well as readiness to improve economic and trade ties with Iraq, including the construction of an oil pipeline to supply Jordan with Iraqi crude, according to a statement from the premier's office.

Al-Hakim 'asserted the Arab nature of the Shiite community in Iraq and its pride over its Arab identity,' the statement said.

The SCIRI militiamen, called Bader Birgade, were accused over the past six years since the US-led invasion of Iraq of waging a civil war against the Sunni and other affiliated sects in the country.

The dominant Shiite component of the Iraqi government was blamed by Jordanian political circles for impeding the promotion of Iraq's economic ties with the Hashemite Kingdom since the overthrow of the regime of the late president Saddam Hussein, who enjoyed considerable popularity in the Jordanian street.

However, the Iraqi Shiite leader thanked Jordan for hosting about 500,000 Iraqis who have fled their homes for safety since the 2003 US-led invasion of their country, the statement said.