Khalilzad Denies Civil War

The US ambassador to Iraq, Zalmay Khalilzad, said that Iraq is not on the edge of civil war or that a civil war has already begun. He added that sectarianism is rising, especially after the Samarra bombing (in late February), but noted that leaders from different (sects and ethnicities) have called for avoiding civil war. They have sat together and talked about the necessity of the national unity, Khalilzad said, and only the terrorists have tried to ignite civil war. He denied allegations that Iraqi Shia support Iran or that they receive their instructions from Iran. He described them as "pure Iraqi nationalists."