Top Iraqi Shiite Politician Visits Turkey

ANKARA, Turkey (AP) — A top Iraqi Shiite politician is meeting Turkish leaders, who have accused Iraq’s Shiite-led government of coercing Sunni political leaders there.

Ammar al-Hakim, a powerful cleric and leader of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council, has opened his talks with Turkey’s Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu and is also scheduled to meet Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish President Abdullah Gul later Thursday.

Turkey, fearing that the increasing sectarian divide could turn into an armed conflict in neighboring Iraq, has been a vocal critic of Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, a Shiite, who in return has accused Turkey of interfering in Iraqi affairs.

Erdogan responded to al-Maliki Wednesday, saying “we can’t remain silent if you start a process of sectarian conflict.”