Syria should have honest elections under UN auspices – Maliki

BAGHDAD / IraqiNews.com: Iraqi Premier Nouri al-Maliki said today that “Syria should have honest elections under UN and Arab auspices to elect a national council that will endorse the constitution.” In a statement issued by the Premiership’s office and received by IraqiNews.com, it noted that in an interview with Saudi Ukadh daily Maliki approved the change in Syria, which “is a necessity where all situations will not be settled without having enough freedoms and the formation of a national unity government to be followed by honest elections under UN and Arab auspices to elect a national council that will endorse the constitution”. Commenting on the Arab Summit in Baghdad, he added that “there is no problem shouldprime ministers or military councils attend to represent their countries in the summit, particularly for countries without complete political systems.” “Iraq wants to build strong relations with Saudi Arabia based on clarity and direct dialogue, not intermediaries who may devastate the relations, sometimes,” he added. Maliki called for openness among the Arabs in order to have clear joint interests, firstly among them and the world. RM (TI) 1164