DAR AL ISLAM - IRAQ: "WE ARE CLOSE TO PARTITION"

Iraq “close to partition”, says French FM

PARIS - Iraq is nearing partition, French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy said on Friday as violence between Sunni and Shia Muslims raged on in Baghdad.

Following talks with his counterpart from Qatar, Sheikh Hamad bin Jassem bin Jabr Al Thani, Douste-Blazy on Iraq told reporters: ”We are clearly in agreement on one unfortunate fact: We are close to partition.”

The French foreign minister said the only solution to Iraq’s descent into more chaos was a withdrawal of international forces in 2008 and restoring the rule of law.

“Even the Iraqi officials are unable for the time being of making plans for Iraq,” said the Qatari foreign minister, referring to the chaos.

“Of course, the neighbours can be of help or not be of help, but the Iraqis must above all depend on themselves by making decisions to restore justice, create equality, combat militias and reassure the whole of the Iraqi people,” he said.

An international conference on security in Iraq is scheduled for March 10 in Baghdad, with the United States, Russia, China, Britain and France set to attend along with Iraqi neighbours Syria and Iran.

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