Tuesday, September 19 2006 11:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

United Nations: Warning that Iraq was sliding into a full-scale civil war, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan has asked the Iraqi government to do more to foster national unity.

"If current pattern of alienation and violence persists much longer, there is grave danger that the Iraqi State will break down, possibly in the midst of a full-scale civil war," he said.

Diplomats said the remarks of Annan, who retires in December, were the bluntest they had heard from the chief executive of the world body.

Addressing the meeting of Iraqi leaders, Annan urged them as also the international community to help bring the country back from the brink.

"It is heartbreaking that the everyday life of Iraqi people is dominated by constant threat of sectarian violence and civil strife despite important progress made by the country in the last two years.

In this context, he referred to national elections and ongoing constitutional process in the country.

Asking the Iraqi government to do more to bring about national unity, Anann said the most important task is to broaden support for the kind of action, at national, regional and international levels, that can bring Iraq back from the brink.

The closed door meeting was attended by foreign ministers of Iraq's neighbours, including Iran and Syria.

The proceedings were kept under wraps but diplomats spoke of Iranian Minister Manouchehr Mottaki strongly attacking the US-led invasion of Iraq, blaming the situation in the country on the Bush administration decision to attack the country.