ANKARA, March 24: Iraq does not face the danger of civil war as Iraqis move towards a national unity government and prepare to take on more responsibility for their country, the chairman of the US joints of staff, Peter Pace, said on Friday.

“I do not think a civil war will erupt in Iraq. What is important here are the decisions of the Iraqi people,” Pace, who was in Turkey to attend a conference on global terrorism, told the NTV news channel with voice-over translation into Turkish.

The general pointed out that Iraqi leaders had called for calm and moderation since the bombing last month of a Shia shrine north of Baghdad, which triggered reprisals against Sunnis and unleashed the worst sectarian violence in years.

“I think the Iraqi people have understood that they are at a historic turning point. The elected leaders are working to form a unity government that will include Shias, Sunnis, Kurds, Iraqis,” Pace said.

“This will be to the benefit of Iraqis. I foresee a very healthy 2006. They (Iraqis) will take on more responsibility” for their country, he added.—AFP