Saudi Arabia said yesterday it feared a US-led war to overthrow President Saddam Hussein would transform Iraq into another Afghanistan, with rival ethnic and religious factions fighting for power.
"If things fall apart, who will come back and bring it all back together?" the Saudi Foreign Minister, Prince Saud al-Faisal, asked.
"All the factions inside Iraq will present their visions for a new government like they did in Afghanistan. These are the consequences of a conflict, and if that happens, it will result in the division of Iraq," he said in the Saudi capital.
Critics of the US war which toppled the Taliban in Afghanistan say western countries have failed to end ethnic and religious rivalries, and the country faces years of instability.
Prince Saud said a possible US-led invasion of Iraq and President Saddam's ouster would not only splinter his country's neighbour but also set off turmoil in the volatile region.
Saudi Arabia's Sunni Muslim rulers are terrified of any Shia power centre in southern Iraq that could spur dissent among their own Shia minority.
Prince Saud, whose country is involved in a diplomatic drive aimed at averting a war, also asked the United Nations to give equal attention to the territorial integrity of Iraq before sanctioning military action.
"The goal of military action should not be to punish Iraq or occupy Iraq," he said. "It should result in maintaining Iraqi integrity and independence . . . because if internal security is lost, I don't think the United Nations, with all its forces, can regain it. There will be a collapse of the administration and that will result in grave consequences for the region."
The kingdom fears military action will only ratchet up Islamist militancy within its own borders and beyond.
Saudi Arabia is the birthplace of Osama bin Laden as well as most of the hijackers in the September 11th attacks.
Prince Saud said he had discussed his country's fears with President Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, adding: "Our aim is to make the United Nations aware of its responsibility . . . not only to (issue) a decree allowing the use of force against Iraq but to have one that would create a force to maintain Iraqi security but not occupy it."
Prince Saud said it was up to Baghdad to avoid war. "Without a doubt, if there is clear co-operation between Iraq and the inspectors that will be the fastest route or method to prevent war and only Iraq can decide that." - (Reuters)