Special report: Tension escalates in Iraq

    UNITED NATIONS, Sept. 26 (Xinhua) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nori Kamil al-Maliki on Wednesday called on the international community to support his country on way to peace, security and prosperity.

    Speaking at the general debate of the 62nd session of the UN General Assembly, Maliki said "we have a long way to achieve our goals for a secure, stable and prosperous Iraq." He hoped that the international community would support and help the conflict-stricken country achieve the goals.

    "We believe that security is a progressively integrated system," he told world leaders. "A secure and stable Iraq will be in the best interest of the region and the world."

    "We cautioned all countries in the region that the continued overflow of weapons, money, suicide bombers, and the spreading of 'fatwas' inciting hatred and murder, will only result in disastrous consequences for peoples of region and the world," the Iraqi prime minister said.

    He pointed out that the Iraqi government has taken the initiative to improve its relationship with neighboring countries, but made it clear that Iraq rejects any outside interference into its internal affairs.

    On terrorism, he said it is an extension of the fallen dictatorship.

    "Iraq, that carries the greater burden in confronting terrorism, calls upon the nations of the world to help and unite its efforts towards fighting terrorism," he said.

    Maliki also stressed the importance of national reconciliation, which is regarded as "a life boat, a perpetual peace project and a safe harbor for the political process and the democratic experience" for the Iraqi people.

    The Iraqi leader said national reconciliation is not the responsibility of the Iraqi government alone.

    "It is a group responsibility held by political powers, intellectual leaders, religious leaders, the educated, civil organizations and all the active powers in the Iraqi arena," he said.

    National reconciliation is Iraq's strategic choice "that has saved our country from slipping into the pit of a sectarian war," he said.

    "It lays the foundation for political, social, economic progress and the security that we strive for," the Iraqi prime minister noted.

    Maliki hailed the active UN participation in rebuilding Iraq.

    "We are hopeful that the United Nations will mobilize its activities in Iraq," he said.

    The UN Security Council adopted a resolution in August, deciding to expand the UN political role in Iraq, aimed at bringing together the strife-torn country's rival factions, gaining broader support from neighboring countries, and tackling the deepening humanitarian crisis.

    In addition, both U.S. President George W. Bush and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice met with the Iraqi prime minister respectively on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York.

    Bush reassured Maliki of American support despite increasing U.S. public's anger at the war and the sluggish pace of Iraqi progress.