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Iraqi FM warns of civil war if U.S. troops leave |
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07:25, July 10, 2007 |
Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari warned Monday that a rapid withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq would pull down the government and leave the country in a civil war.
Confessing that President George W. Bush was under pressures to withdraw the U.S. troops from Iraq, the top Iraqi diplomat told reporters in Baghdad that the Iraqi forces are not ready to take over security in the war-torn country.
He said that he had held talks with visiting U.S. Congress members to explain the risk of any change in U.S. strategies in Iraq.
"The dangers could be a civil war, dividing the country, regional wars and the collapse of the state," he said.
Zebari said that the United States has a responsibility to support the Iraqi government until its forces are built.
As for Iraq's relations with Turkey, Zebari said some 140,000 Turkish soldiers are on Iraq-Turkish border in northern the country.
"Turkey is building up forces on the border. There are 140,000 soldiers fully armed on the border. We are against any military interference or violation of Iraqi sovereignty," Zebari said.
Zebari's comments came as Turkey was reportedly massing its troops to carry out cross-border military operations in northern Iraq to pursue the rebel Kurdish Workers Party, or PKK.
He insisted that the problem with Turkey should be solved through dialogue, saying that
"Turkey's fears are legitimate but such things can be discussed."
"The perfect solution is the withdrawal of the Turkish forces from the borders," he said, adding that "No one wants a new military conflict in the region.
Source: Xinhua
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