Accessibility links

Breaking News

Iraqi President Says Country Not In Civil War


Iraqi President Jalal Talabani (file photo) (epa) August 7, 2006 -- Iraqi President Jalal Talabani says his country is not in the grip of a civil war between the Shi'ite and Sunni communities.


Talabani said in Baghdad today that he believes there is "more than one political force" that opposes civil war. He spoke to reporters with the commander of U.S. and coalition forces in Iraq at his side, General George Casey.


Talibani's comments came shortly after remarks by General John Abizaid, the top U.S. commander in the Middle East. Abizaid told a U.S. Senate committee in Washington that sectarian violence in Iraq "is probably as bad as I have seen it" and that if the spiral continues, the country "could move toward civil war."


Casey today told reporters there is a comprehensive plan to calm the violence in the coming weeks.


Some 3,700 U.S. soldiers have already been reassigned to Baghdad to reinforce security in the capital.


(AFP, AP)

RFE/RL Iraq Report

RFE/RL Iraq Report


SUBSCRIBE For weekly news and analysis on Iraq by e-mail, subscribe to "RFE/RL Iraq Report."

RFE/RL has been declared an "undesirable organization" by the Russian government.

If you are in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine and hold a Russian passport or are a stateless person residing permanently in Russia or the Russia-controlled parts of Ukraine, please note that you could face fines or imprisonment for sharing, liking, commenting on, or saving our content, or for contacting us.

To find out more, click here.

XS
SM
MD
LG