Iraq angered by civil war warning

[ECH1969]

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

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.

Flanked by Sunni and Kurdish politicians, Mr Jaafari said: "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," he added.

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

http://newsvote.bbc.co.uk/mpapps/pagetools/print/news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/middle_east/4892784.stm

[Tempest]

1. Why does the truth hurt so much?

It's a lot less painful to just admit to it and learn from it.

[merwin]

2. "Our people are still far away from any sectarian conflict"

By "Our People" he meant his party leaders, and by "far away" he meant in the green zone.

[sandnsea]

3. Prove the world wrong

Form a unity government. We'd all be absolutely delighted.