BAGHDAD, April 9 (UPI) -- Iraqi leaders were angered by Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak's contention that Iraq is on the verge of a civil war.
Shiite leaders are at a political impasse over whether Prime Minister Ibrahim al-Jaafari retains the support of his party bloc. The nomination of al-Jaafari has been one of the main sticking points in coalition talks with Kurds and Sunnis, and many Shiites are now calling for him to step down as candidate, the BBC reported.
On Sunday, Jaafari appeared with Sunni and Kurdish politicians to dismiss suggestions by Mubarak that a civil war was imminent.
"We are astonished that Egypt identifies Iraq's security problems as a civil war," he said. "Our people are still far away from any sectarian conflict or a civil war."
Mubarak told al-Arabiya TV on Saturday that civil war in Iraq "was on the doorstep."
