PM Erdogan speaks with Iraqi counterpart al-Maliki by phone

ANKARA (A.A) - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan held a phone conversation with his Iraqi counterpart Nuri al-Maliki on Tuesday night. In his talk with al-Maliki, Erdogan stressed that the feeling of suspicion towards members of the Iraqi coalition and the following enmity would negatively affect the Iraqi democracy. Sources said that al-Maliki wished Erdogan recovery after a recent surgery and the two leaders discussed the latest developments in Iraq. Erdogan informed al-Maliki that he was concerned about the sectarian and ethnic polarization in Iraq following U.S. pull out and the possibility of this polarization turning into a total chaos. Erdogan reminded al-Maliki that there had to be steps taken so that tension would deescalate as part of the case against Iraqi Vice-President Tariq al-Hashimi. Prime Minister Erdogan once again affirmed that Turkey's policy on Iraq involved the protection of the independence, territorial integrity and political union of Iraq as well as seeing the people of Iraq live in peace, democracy and prosperity.