Tuesday, September 19, 2006
Annan says Iraq is on the brink of civil war
Politics, Security
Speaking to a conference on Iraq, UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan today said that, if current trends persist, there is a "grave danger" that the Iraqi state will break down, "possibly in the midst of full-scale civil war."Annan called for urgent action to prevent such a scenario.
Following Annan's address, Iraqi President Jalal Talabani gave an impassioned defense of his government's strategy for combatting terrorism and sectarian violence, disbanding rival militias and reforming government security services.
He also pledged to create a credible national unity government and institute wide-ranging economic reforms including guarantees for foreign investors, a sound national oil law and transparency on how money is distributed and spent, according to a senior US official who attended the closed-door talks. Alos speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York was Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who warned that a federal system in Iraq could break up the country and threaten the stability of the region.
He also pledged to create a credible national unity government and institute wide-ranging economic reforms including guarantees for foreign investors, a sound national oil law and transparency on how money is distributed and spent, according to a senior US official who attended the closed-door talks. Alos speaking at the UN General Assembly in New York was Turkish Foreign Minister Abdullah Gul who warned that a federal system in Iraq could break up the country and threaten the stability of the region.
