The National Alliance, a coalition of the Shiite-led political blocs in Iraq, said they were rejecting the Saudi offer as a deal that would lead to the formation of a coalition government appeared to be imminent after the country's highest court ordered Parliament to resume sessions last week.
"Though we express our appreciation to Saudi Arabia for its concern about the situation in Iraq and its willingness to provide support, we would like to confirm that Iraqi leaders are continuing their meetings to reach a national consensus," the Shiite alliance said in a joint statement issued on Sunday.
Their response came a day after Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah offered to host all-party talks in Riyadh for resolving the continuing political imbroglio since the March 7 elections. The Saudi Monarch had offered to hold the talks in Riyadh after the annual Muslim hajj pilgrimage ends in mid-November.
"I invite his Excellency President Jalal Talabani ... and all parties that took part in the elections and the political process to your second country Saudi Arabia, to Riyadh, after the blessed Hajj season (for a meeting)," King Abdullah said in his appeal to Iraqi leaders.
Despite the rejection of the Saudi offer by the Shiite alliance, al-Iraqiya coalition led by former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi have welcomed the Saudi Monarch's initiative.
Iraq has been without a new government since a March 7 election that failed to produce a clear winner, leaving Shiite Muslim, Sunni Arab and Kurdish politicians jockeying for power and position.
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