Iraqi PM Maliki warns about sectarianism

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BAGHDAD, April 27 (UPI) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki condemned sectarianism, calling it "evil," and warned Arab nations if it "begins in a place it will move to another place."

Maliki's comments came after a number of instances of violence left about 170 people dead across Iraq since Tuesday, the BBC reported.

"Sectarianism is evil, and the wind of sectarianism does not need a license to cross from a country to another, because if it begins in a place it will move to another place," Maliki said.

"Strife is knocking on the doors of everyone, and no one will survive if it enters, because there is a wind behind it, and money, and plans," he added.

On Saturday in Iraq, at least five anti-al-Qaida Sunni militiamen and three security forces personnel were killed in two separate attacks.

In the first attack, gunmen open fire on a checkpoint near the city of Tikrit, killing five members of the anti-al-Qaida militia Awakening Council.

Later, three army intelligence personnel were shot and killed by gunmen near an anti-government protest camp in the city of Ramadi, police said.