Iraqi forces would deal with civil war, says Rumsfeld

Dealing with a civil war in Iraq would be the responsibility of Iraq’s own security forces, at least initially, US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld told Congress yesterday.

Testifying alongside senior military leaders and Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, Mr Rumsfeld said he did not believe Iraq would descend into all-out civil war, though he acknowledged that sectarian strife had worsened.