Iraq war 'has split the world'

2006-05-26 21:05

Washington - British Prime Minister Tony Blair has made an impassioned call for countries to put their differences on Iraq behind them and rally behind the new government in the war-ravaged country.

In a foreign policy speech at Georgetown University, Washington, on Friday, Blair said: "This should be a moment of reconciliation not only in Iraq but in the international community.

"The war split the world. The struggle of Iraqis for democracy should unite it."

He described Iraq's new government as a child democracy "struggling to be born", and the international community as "the midwives".

Blair said: "You may not agree with the original decision. You may believe mistakes have been made. You may even think, how can it be worth the sacrifice?

"But surely we must all accept this is a genuine attempt to run the race for liberty."

Blair met with members of the new Iraqi government in a surprise visit to Baghdad on Monday.

He said that although the international community "can argue forever" on the merits of the 2003 United States-led invasion to topple former president Saddam Hussein, he remained convinced it was the right decision.

Nevertheless, Blair struck a conciliatory tone: "I don't want to reopen past arguments. I want to advocate a new concord to displace the old contention."

- AFP