Annan warns Iraq is on the brink_时事politics

u.n. secretary general kofi annan and iraq 's president jalal talabani (l)attend a meeting about iraq at the u.n. in new york monday, sept. 18, 2006. world leaders are in new york for the united nations general assembly.

chinese foreign minister li zhaoxing meets with his south korean counterpart ban ki-moon during a high-level panel discussion on iraq at united nations in new york monday, sept. 18, 2006 sept. 19 - un secretary general kofi annan warned iraqi and us leaders that urgent action must be taken now to drag iraq back from the brink of all-out civil war.

 

annan told a special meeting on the strife-torn nation at un headquarters, attended by iraq's president jalal talabani and us secretary of state condoleezza rice, that international efforts were needed to end the spiralling violence and reestablish confidence in the government.

 

with scores of people being killed each day by suicide bombers and partisan militias, the un chief said it was "heartbreaking" that "the everyday life of iraqi people is dominated by the constant threat of sectarian violence and civil strife."

 

annan said iraq, which was invaded by a us-led force in 2003, had made "important progress" in the past two years with two national elections, a constitutional referendum and a constitutional process.

 

he said that if iraqi leaders "can address the needs and common interests of all iraqis, the promise of peace and prosperity is still within reach".

 

"but if current patterns of alienation and violence persist much longer, there is a grave danger that the iraqi state will break down, possibly in the midst of full-scale civil war," he said.

 

us leaders have denied that there is a civil war in iraq despite the scope of the violence.

 

annan said however action must be taken in baghdad and internationally to "bring iraq back from the brink".

 

the un chief called on iraq's leaders to make stronger efforts to "defuse rising sectarian tensions" on top of a national reconciliation plan launched by prime minister nuri al-maliki.

 

annan backed an arab league proposal to hold a national conference in baghdad to discuss issues such as federalism and the sharing of revenues.

 

"many of iraq's neighbours have legitimate concerns about instability inside that country. iraq must remain sensitive to these apprehensions. the neighbours, for their part, must also be responsive to iraqi security needs," he said.

 

a meeting in jeddah, saudi arabia of interior ministers from iraq and seven other middle east countries brought a promise to step up efforts to stem the flow of foreign fighters into iraq.

 

the six arab states plus iran and turkey undertook to "put more effort towards taking necessary measures in guarding and controlling the borders and ports to combat smuggling and infiltration of terrorists from and into iraq and prevent using forged travel documents."

 

at the un meeting, iraq's president talabani said that a national compact drawn up by the government in baghdad would provide major change in iraq over the next five years.