Jordanian King Abdullah II on Tuesday pointed out that the Islamic scholars have a great responsibility to defuse the crisis facing Iraq through unequivocally elaborating that what is happening there, killing and kidnapping, is a flagrant violation of the sacred principles of Islam, which calls for tolerance and mercy.

During a meeting with visiting Iraqi Vice President, also a senior Iraqi Sunni leader, Tariq al-Hashemi, Abdullah said that Iraq needs "every sincere effort" to preserve its security, territorial integrity and sovereignty.

To concentrate all efforts of all the Iraqi political forces to stop the rapid deterioration of security in Iraq and to adopt the dialogue as a way to resolving differences is extremely important in this critical stage, said Abdullah.

He reaffirmed the importance that any future political settlement for the situation in Iraq must includes all parties, pointing out that the exclusion or marginalization of any party will ignite the flames of sedition which will lead to a state of chaos and destruction to the people and the destiny of Iraq, the Jordan's official news agency Petra reported.

Jordan, on basis of its historical and religious responsibility, will continue to exert all necessary efforts at the various Arab, regional and international levels to ensure the return of stability and security to Iraq and to bring the views of the various political stripes in order to end the state of violence and sectarian fighting in Iraq, Abdullah added.

This meeting comes ahead of his expected meeting with U.S. President George W. Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri Al-Maliki in Amman on Wednesday.

Source: Xinhua