Iraq could split up if no moves to unity-Lavrov

MOSCOW, Oct 24 (Reuters) - Iraq could break up if measures are not undertaken urgently to underpin national unity, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov today said.

''If there is no sudden change and if there is no start to efforts towards unity, this situation could become reality,'' Russian news agencies quoted Lavrov as telling journalists in St Petersburg, Russia's second city.

Russia opposed the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and has called for efforts to contain violence there.

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