Hashimi urges Turkey to help Iraq

Iraqi Deputy President Tariq al-Hashimi, claimed almost a week after an arrest warrant was issued against him that Shiite Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki wanted to become the "one-man" in a political vacuum caused by the US pullout from Iraq and that "Kurdish officials would be the next targets" in his alleged plans to establish his "autocratic" rule in Iraq. Speaking to the Anatolian News Agency, Hashimi said, "Obviously, Maliki wants to erase the opposition entirely. He has started with me and threatened other political figures in his latest statement. I believe Kurdish officials will be the next target in the future, because Maliki wants to govern Iraq by himself." Stating that he was not involved in any secret or dirty work, Hashimi said that he has never violated the Constitution and that accusations against him were shocking both to the Iraqi people and him. Hashimi stated that he had a message to Turkey as well, saying, "Turkey should keep its eyes open, because certain neighboring countries interfere in Iraq's internal affairs and create these problems. Today what happens in Iraq threaten the entire region. I would like Turkey to help us build a modern, outward-oriented and free Iraq without facing any sectarian problem and being under the influence of any neighboring country, just like it has done in the past." Hashimi added that Turkey, playing a great role in the Middle East, should be very careful about Iraq, because stability, security and existence of a single government would serve Turkey's interests.