Think Tank Warns Iraq Faces 'Disintegration'

Scene from a funeral on December in Baghdad (epa) December 19, 2006 (RFE/RL) -- A new report by the International Crisis Group warns that Iraq faces "complete disintegration into failed state chaos," and urges the United States to adopt a radical change of strategy to end the crisis.

The Brussels-based think tank criticizes the U.S. insistence on supporting Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's coalition government. It calls instead for the international community to open talks with all Iraq's warring parties.

The document came a day after the U.S. Defense Department issued a report saying the number of Iraqi insurgent attacks on U.S. troops and Iraqi security forces and civilians has risen to a new record high.

Statistics released by the Pentagon say the average number of insurgent attacks per week rose to 959 during the three months to November 10.