Iraq asks Riyadh to replace 'meddlesome' ambassador in Baghdad

Iraq has officially asked Saudi Arabia to recall its ambassador to Baghdad after the envoy allegedly told media outlets of a plot by Iran-backed Iraqi groups to assassinate him.

"The Iraqi foreign ministry has sent an official request to the Saudi foreign ministry to replace its ambassador to Iraq," ministry spokesperson Ahmad Jamal said in a statement.

"Several statements and opinions voiced in the media overstepped the boundaries of diplomatic protocol and of an ambassador's duties," he said.

Jamal did not mention the circumstances surrounding the ministry's request to replace Thamer al-Sabhan, who became the first Saudi ambassador to Iraq in a quarter century, after relations were cut following ex-president Saddam Hussein's invasion of Kuwait.

However, a source close to the ministry told The New Arab that Iraqi foreign minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari had met alone with Prime Minister Haidar Abadi during the last Cabinet meeting.

"Replacing Sabhan may have been discussed during this meeting," the source suggested.

The announcement came as an apparent response to persistent requests that Sabhan be expelled in reaction to comments he has made about Iran's involvement in Iraq and claims that Iran-backed Shia militias were exacerbating tensions with Sunnis.

In January, Iraq's foreign ministry summoned Sabhan to protest his "interference" in the country's internal affairs after he said in an interview with al-Sumaria television that the Popular Mobilisation paramilitary forces, which are dominated by Iran-backed Shia militias, are not wanted in Sunni Arab and Kurdish areas as "they are not accepted by the sons of Iraqi society".

Several statements and opinions voiced in the media overstepped the boundaries of diplomatic protocol and of an ambassador's duties. - Ahmed Jamal

The foreign ministry defended the Popular Mobilisation, "which is fighting terrorism and defending the sovereignty of the country, and works under the umbrella of the state".

Popular Mobilisation spokesperson Ahmed al-Assadi termed Sabhan an "ambassador of a state that supports terrorism" and called for Iraq to "expel this ambassador and punish him for his statements".

More recently, Baghdad was infuriated by a claim the ambassador allegedly made that those same groups were planning to assassinate him.

Jamal said Sabhan's claim was unsubstantiated and solely "aimed at undermining Iraq's image and questioning its ability to protect diplomatic delegations". 

Iraqi officials have repeatedly accused the Gulf kingdom of supporting the Islamic State militant group that took over swathes of the country in June 2014.

Iraq has since turned to Shia militia forces to help counter the IS onslaught that overran large areas north and west of Baghdad, and they have played a key role in the fight against the extremists.

Agencies contributed to this report.