Why is Iraq in civil war

What a timely remark from an Iraqi politician. The country's former interim prime minister Iyad Allawi says the country is in civil war - something which is totally denied by the Americans and their ally the UK.

Mr Allawi's remarks comes on the third year anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq.

Sectarian violence in the country sees people being killed almost daily. Even yesterday another 12 were killed in a cycle of sectarian reprisals and revenge killings between Sunnis and Shias.

The Brits are realising that things in Iraq are getting out of control, and coupled with tremendous pressure from home, have decided to gradually remove their troops beginning this summer.

However the Americans are not so keen to leave just yet. Their reasons? Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says if the US leaves Iraq now there is every reason to believe terrorists would fill the vacuum.

He said:

"The terrorists are determined to stoke sectarian tension and are attempting to spark a civil war."

Well, we now know who he is blaming for the appalling conditions in Iraq today.

But sadly for him, millions of people who protested all around the world on Saturday against the war firmly believe the turmoil in Iraq was a direct result of the US intervention in that country.

For these protesters, there is only one person to blame - US president George W Bush!