IRAQ `IN THE GRIP OF CIVIL WAR'

Iraq is in the grip of civil war, the country's former prime minister will insist on Sunday.

Iyad Allawi warned the violence was reaching the point of no return and Europe and the USA would not be spared the consequences.

British ministers have repeatedly denied civil war is either imminent or inevitable in Iraq.

But former interim prime minister Mr Allawi said: ``It is unfortunate that we are in civil war. We are losing each day as an average 50 to 60 people throughout the country, if not more. If this is not civil war, then God knows what civil war is.''

Mr Allawi tells the BBC's Sunday AM program: ``Iraq is in the middle of a crisis. Maybe we have not reached the point of no return yet. But we are moving towards this point. We are in a terrible civil conflict now.''

Mr Allawi said Iraq would fall apart if the bloodshed reached the point of no return.

``It will not only fall apart, but sectarianism will spread throughout the region, and even Europe and the United States would not be spared all the violence that may occur as a result of sectarian problems in this region.''

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Drudge