IRAQ offered to mediate between Saudi Arabia and Iran to end their dispute triggered by Riyadh’s execution of a prominent Shiite cleric, saying yesterday it could spill over into the rest of the region.

    Iraqi Foreign Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari, speaking in Tehran with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, said the row could have “wide-ranging repercussions.”

    Analysts said Baghdad was particularly worried about anything that could disrupt its campaign against Islamic State militants.

    Sunni Muslim power Saudi Arabia executed Sheikh Nimr al-Nimr on Saturday, prompting protesters to raid Saudi Arabia’s embassy in Iran.

    Riyadh then cut off diplomatic relations with Iran — an action followed by Bahrain and Sudan while the United Arab Emirates downgraded its representation in Tehran.

    Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who leads his divided country with a Shiite-dominated government, has expressed “intense shock” at the execution of Nimr, condemning it as human rights violation.

    (SD-Agencies)