World must not give up on Iraq -- Jordan's Abdullah

PARIS, Mar 20 (Reuters) Jordan's King Abdullah said today that forming a unity government in Baghdad was crucial to stemming violence there, and urged the international community not to give up hope where Iraq was concerned.

Speaking in Paris on the third anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq, Abdullah also said he did not believe the country was in a state of civil war.

''I don't think we are at the point of the issue of civil war,'' he told the European-American Press Club.

''But if we don't have the key elements of a unity government, it will be just that bit more difficult to try and create the understandings between the Shias, the Sunnis and the Kurds to be able to move forward.'' ''I hope none of us feel that we should give up at this point,'' he added. ''We still need to be there for the Iraqi people.'' REUTERS VJ RAI0030