Report: Saudi King Abdullah refuses to meet Maliki

Above: Iranian President Ahmadinejad and King Abdullah meeting in Riyadh in February. Though Saudi official reports focused on ending regional sectarian strife, Iran's official reports quoted Ahmadinejad as saying that "Both Iran and Saudi Arabia are aware of the enemies' conspiracies, and while condemning these conspiracies, we invite all Muslims to be aware of the enemies' plans with wisdom," and further, "About the Palestinian and Iraqi issues, we had discussions in detail. In many cases, we had a common point of view. Both countries oppose the enemies' control over the Islamic region."

In a serious rebuff to U.S. diplomacy, King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia has refused to receive Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki on the eve of a critical regional summit on the future of the war-ravaged country, Iraqi and other Arab officials said yesterday.

The Saudi leader's decision reflects the growing tensions between the oil-rich regional giants, the deepening skepticism among Sunni leaders in the Middle East about Iraq's Shiite-dominated government, and Arab concern about the prospects of U.S. success in Iraq, the sources said. The Saudi snub also indicates that the Maliki government faces a creeping regional isolation unless it takes long-delayed actions, Arab officials warn.

Read the rest at the Washngton Post

Related Link:
Report: Maliki rejects foreign interference in meeting with U.S. lawmakers

Related Link:
Analysis: US pressure on Iraq to pass key laws may backfire

Related Link:
Opinion (Anne-Beatrice Clasmann): Maliki on shaky ground

Related Link:
Analysis: Kuwait's refusal to forgive Iraqi debt reflects past bitterness, new suspicions

Related Link:
Maliki rejects Arab conditions on support for his government

Related Link:
Report: Maliki told government must reconcile with Sunnis, insurgents to get Arab support

Related Link:
'Officials': Saudi Arabia agrees to forgive 80% of $15 billion Iraqi debt

Related Link:
Perspective: Iraq fight stirring religious tensions in region

Related Link:
U.S. seeks 'clarification' on Saudi King Abdullah's Iraq remarks

Related Link:
Saudi King Abdullah Condemns U.S. Occupation of Iraq