Egyptian President Husni Mubarak: Shiites Are Loyal to Iran More Than to Their Own Countries

Following are excerpts from an interview with Egyptian President Husni Mubarak, which aired on Al-Arabiya TV on April 8, 2006.

Interviewer: Do you think Iraq is on the brink of civil war?

Egyptian President Husni Mubarak: Not "on the brink." Civil war has more or less broken out. There are Shiites, Sunnis, Kurds, and those coming from Asia... It's very difficult, and I don't know how Iraq will pick up the pieces. Personally, I do not see how this can happen. Iraq is half destroyed.

Interviewer: Do you think it was the Iranian influence that caused this crisis in Iraq?

Egyptian President Husni Mubarak: Iran's influence over whom?

Interviewer: Over the Shiites, of course, and it is said that they influence the resistance too. There is no doubt that Iran has influence over the Shiites, because they have many people - 65% of the Iraqis are Shiites. All these countries have a high percentages of Shiites. The Shiites are always loyal to Iran. Most of them are loyal to Iran and not to the countries in which they live...

Interviewer: Has this complicated the problem in Iraq, or do you think that the problem is with the Americans?

This issue is fundamentally complex, because Iraq is composed of different groups and this will never let things calm down. Therefore, if only Saddam had behaved justly, none of this would have happened.

Interviewer: What would happen to Iraq if the Americans withdrew today?

Egyptian President Husni Mubarak: Now? It would be a disaster. The internal war