Saudi Arabia urges US to change course in Iraq

Dubai, Jan 6: Saudi Arabia has urged the United States tochange course in Iraq and warned against the break-up of the countryalong ethnic or religious lines amid growing sectarian violence, anewspaper said today.

''The coalition forces in Iraq should review the aims of theirpresence and the strategy of remaining there because the question thatshould be asked is: what have these forces achieved since their arrivalon Iraqi land?'' Crown Prince Sultan bin Abdul-Aziz told theLondon-based Asharq al-Awsat newspaper.

''Has the strategy that these forces are using achieved anythingpositive? Are there strategic alternatives that should be considered asthe existing situation in Iraq deteriorates?'' The comments come asPresident George W Bush prepares to announce a shift in Iraq policynext week.

Yesterday, Bush shuffled the U S military commanders responsiblefor Iraq, but Democrats, who now control Congress, are resisting aproposal to raise troop levels in Iraq.

Bush may propose a temporary increase of up to 20,000 troops totry to stabilise a country gripped by sectarian violence bordering oncivil war.

Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia, a key U S ally in the region, isconcerned that such violence could lead to the disintegration of Iraqinto Shi'ite, Sunni and Kurdish regions.

''We have warned and continue to warn against calls for thedivision of Iraq, which come up now and then, calling for sectarianrights or minority freedoms,'' Prince Sultan said.

Prince Sultan also called on Iraqis to launch a national dialogueto end the bloodshed and, in a veiled swipe at Shi'ite Iran, urgedIraq's neighbours to stop meddling in its affairs.

The Washington Times reported last month that a security reportcommissioned by the Saudi government said Iran had effectively createda Shi'ite ''state within a state'' in Iraq.

''There are a series of factors affecting the deterioration of thesecurity and political situation in Iraq. Here, we call on someneighbouring countries to ... stop backing sects and movements inIraq,'' Prince Sultan told the Saudi-owned paper.

The New York Times cited unnamed U S officials and Arab diplomatsin December as saying Riyadh would refrain from aiding the Sunniinsurgency only as long as U S forces remained in Iraq.

''The kingdom has not and will not interfere in Iraq's domesticaffairs, leaving room for its people to find a way out of the crisisthey are living through,'' Prince Sultan said.

Reuters>