Bush doubts Iraq in civil war

WASHINGTON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- U.S. President George Bush, in an exclusive interview on the Fox News Channel, says he doubts Iraq is in a civil war.

Many news organizations have started to call the sectarian violence in Iraq a civil war.

"Listen, I've heard a lot of voices say that," Bush told interviewer Brit Hume. "And I've talked to people there in Iraq who don't believe that's the case. For example, some would argue that the fact that 90 percent of the country -- let me just say this -- most of the country outside of the Baghdad area, is relatively peaceful. Doesn't indicate a civil war as far as they're concerned. "

Bush said most of the violence "occurs around the Baghdad area," though there is "no question it's dangerous, no question it's violence, and no question we have to do something about the sectarian violence by helping the Iraqi government do something about it."

Bush said he is looking forward to a report this week from the bipartisan Iraq study group headed by former Secretary of State James Baker. "I am going to listen to them," he said, "listen to what they have to say."

The videotaped interview was scheduled to air Monday.