“I warn you against continuing (blocking the highway), because this is against the Iraqi constitution. We have been very patient with you.”

Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki called upon Anbar protesters to end their demonstrations that have led to several days of blockage of a major road in the western province of Anbar connecting Iraq to Syria and Jordan.

The Iraqi premier said the protesters should “end their strike before the state intervenes to end it.” “I warn you against continuing (blocking the highway), because this is against the Iraqi constitution. We have been very patient with you.”

The protesters have blocked off the key trade highway since December 23, following the arrest of Finance Minister Rafia al-Issawi’s bodyguards on terrorism charges.

The demonstrators allege that the arrests were made on sectarian grounds and demand the release of the detainees.

Maliki, however, says the bodyguards were arrested following an independent judicial inquiry based on the anti-terrorism law.

Last week, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan accused the Iraqi government of sectarian behavior, saying that Iraq could soon be plagued with unrest like what is now happening in Syria.

Baghdad-Ankara relations turned sour last year after Turkey expressed support for fugitive Iraqi Vice President Tariq al-Hashemi and gave him refuge. Hashemi has been sentenced to death in Iraq over involvement in terrorism-linked activities.