Talabani: Iraq won't have civil war
By BARRY SCHWEID AP Diplomatic Writer
© 2006 The Associated Press
WASHINGTON — Iraqi President Jalal Talabani disputed on Tuesday reports of growing violence in his country and declared, "I can assure you there will be no civil war."
At a news conference, Talabani also leveled a warning to Iraq's neighbors that interference will not be tolerated.
Talabani projected a vastly different account of the security situation. He said it had improved since last year when many areas were in the control of terrorists.
Last year, he said by way of example, there were 10 to 14 car bombings a day in Baghdad and this year one to four.
Most of the fighting is centered in Baghdad, and since most media are in the capital they provide a slanted picture of Iraq's situation, Talabani said.
"The media is only focusing on the negative and exaggerating it," he said.
"We cannot tolerate more interference of our neighbors," he said at another point, with evident anger.
Talabani also denounced as "a big lie" a report last week by Manfred Nowak, the U.N. special investigator on torture, that torture in Iraq may be worse than it was under Saddam Hussein, with militias, terror groups and government forces disregarding rules on the humane treatment of prisoners.
Talabani said Iraq's constitution provides human-rights safeguards.
On Capitol Hill, meanwhile, Talabani told a group of six senators that setting a deadline for withdrawal of U.S. troops would be a tragedy for Iraq as it works to build its military and police forces, Sen. Joe Lieberman, D-Conn., said in a conference call with reporters.
Pulling out now would "encourage the militias and the enemies of a free and independent and unified Iraq," Lieberman quoted Talabani as saying.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/world/4216141.html