'Hitler figure' could rise from Iraq's instability

THE Iraqi president, Ghazi Yawar, yesterday warned that long-term instability in his country could give rise to an "Iraqi Hitler" if citizens continued to feel humiliated and despondent.

Mr Yawar also criticised the US-led coalition for dismantling Iraq’s security services too soon after the war and accused neighbouring states of doing nothing to stop the insurgency.

The Iraqi president said bombings and kidnappings had plagued the country since last year’s invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, while the relentless Sunni-led insurgency had crippled reconstruction and development projects.

"This could in the long term create an environment in which an Iraqi Hitler could emerge like the one created by the defeat of Germany and the humiliation of Germans in the First World War," Mr Yawar said in an interview with the London-based newspaper Asharq al-Awsat.

Iraq’s interim leaders have come under fire for failing to reach out to some alienated factions and US-led offensives on rebel-held cities have led to further divisions.

Mr Yawar - a Sunni Muslim who was chosen for the largely symbolic post of president in June - urged Iraq’s neighbours to break their "negative silence" about attacks in Iraq and play a positive role in helping stabilise the country.

"When a fire breaks out in your neighbour’s house you should act quickly to put it out, not only for the sake of your neighbour but also so that you are not forced to put it out in your own home when it spreads there," he said.

Earlier this month, Iraq and its neighbours made vague promises to improve security co-operation after a meeting in which Iraqi officials voiced frustration that neighbouring states were not doing enough to halt the flow of people, arms and funds linked to guerrilla violence in Iraq.

Mr Yawar has said elections should go ahead on time on 30 January. But he told the BBC yesterday that he expected more violence aimed at derailing the polls. He said the security situation could not be solved unless Iraqi forces became efficient.

Most parties representing Sunnis have called for the elections to be postponed for up to six months, saying a fair poll could not be held amidst the violence, most of which is affecting Sunni areas.

Mr Yawar said some former army and police officers with clean records should be reinstated, adding that Washington had made a mistake when it dissolved the defence and interior ministries.