Iraq angered by civil war warning

Iraqi leaders have strongly criticised Egypt's president after he said Iraq was on the verge of a civil war.

"We are astonished that Egypt identifies Iraq's security problems as a civil war."

"Our people are still far away from any sectarian conflict or a civil war." ....
Ibrahim Jaafari

Exactly three years after the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, there is growing disagreement over whether Iraq has descended into civil war.

Many say the risk of such a conflict would be reduced with the formation of a national unity government.

Talks on the issue are deadlocked and there was little hope that Shia leaders meeting on Sunday would resolve it.

They are trying to overcome the political impasse over whether Prime Minister Ibrahim Jaafari retains the support of his Shia bloc.

Since the December elections, Mr Jaafari's nomination has been one of the main sticking points in coalition talks with Kurds and Sunnis, and many Shias are now calling for him to step down as candidate.

On Sunday, Mr Jaafari - currently interim prime minister - appeared before reporters to dismiss suggestions made by Egypt's Hosni Mubarak that a civil war was imminent.

"The comments have upset Iraqi people who come from different religious and ethnic backgrounds and have astonished and discontented the Iraqi government."

Mr Mubarak had told al-Arabiya TV on Saturday that civil war in Iraq "was on the doorstep".

"Civil war has almost started among Shias, Sunnis, Kurds and those who are coming from Asia," he said.

This is a view rejected by both the US and Britain. UK Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has said the whole situation is "very serious", but civil war has been averted because of the restraint shown by Shia leaders.