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Doha: A former Iraqi prime minister said a state of emergency and martial law in Iraq were necessary to establish law and order in the country.
In a one-to-one interview with former BBC's Hardtalk presenter Tim Sebastian to be broadcast on BBC World today, Eyad Allawi also warned multinational forces against premature withdrawals that may cause a 'massacre', after Britain announced a pullout of its troops in December.
"You promised law and order but nobody can bring law and order in Iraq," said Sebastian as the interview began at Qatar Foundation last week.
"We couldn't finish our task... but we achieved some results," said Allawi who led the first post-Saddam government and didn't hide his craving again for the position.
"But at what price? What about the loss of lives?" asked Sebastian.
"It was an unfortunate turn of events... it was our mistake and of the multinational forces... but mostly of Saddam's regime which has brought all this upon Iraq," said Allawi.
After slaloming between questions on his early loyalty to Saddam's Baath party, the alleged involvement in a murder case and his long-standing ties with foreign intelligence services, Allawi said the US invasion was the only choice Iraqis had to get rid of tyranny, but blamed the US for committing gross mistakes in the aftermath of the invasion.
Strategic mistakes
"There were three strategic mistakes: the dismantling of the institutions, putting Iraq on the path of sectarianism and the silence over the growing influence of neighbouring countries," he said, admitting that his only regret was not having expedited the return to power of all those serving in the institutions under Saddam.
"I brought back only half of them. I should have brought all of them back," he said.
Allawi, who is currently heading the Iraqi National List in the Iraqi parliament, called for embarking on non-sectarian institutions and said security forces should be cleared of all militia members. He also called for an understanding with neighbouring countries. But he said none of this can be achieved without the use of force.
"I want a state of emergency to establish law and order... we have to get rid of the militias... The concern of the Iraqi people is not the Constitution, but rather the security of their families and we have no security and no life in Iraq right now."
Allawi also touched upon the role of the Gulf states.
"They feel the danger of having a weak and destabilised Iraq and this is why we encourage Arabs to take steps ... Iraq is getting too close to Iran and is neglecting relationships with the Arab countries."
Allawi urged the international community to stick to its commitments in Iraq after Britain announced its withdrawal from Basra and the United Nations to play a stronger role until the country is capable of rebuilding its institutions and security forces.
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