ALJAZEERA: With its government already largely irrelevant, Iraq is on the "verge of becoming a failed state" that risks collapse and fragmentation, a leading think-tank has warned.
Gareth Stansfield, author of Accepting Realities in Iraq report for the Chatham House research institute in London, said on Thursday: "The coming year will be pivotal for Iraq.
"The internecine fighting and continual struggle for power threatens the nation's very existence in its current form."
The report said multinational forces are struggling to promote security in Iraq. Report: Iraqi state risks collapse (more)
Mark Alexander
