Amman: Jordan's King Abdullah, on US TV, warned on Sunday that the world is on the verge of three civil wars unless drastic action is taken by the international community.
"We're juggling with the strong potential of three civil wars in the region, whether it's the Palestinians, that of Lebanon or of Iraq," the Jordanian king said.
"We could possibly imagine going into 2007 and having three civil wars on our hands. And therefore, it is time that we really take a strong step forward as part of the international community and make sure we avert the Middle East from a tremendous crisis that I fear, and I see could possibly happen in 2007," Abdullah said.
Abdullah urged the US to look at the "big picture" and seek comprehensive Middle Eastern solutions involving all regional players, he said - indicating this should include Syria and Iran.
"I keep saying Palestine is the core. It is linked to the extent of what's going on in Iraq. It is linked to what's going on in Lebanon. It is linked to the issues that we find ourselves with the Syrians. So, if you want to do comprehensive - comprehensive means bringing all the parties of the region together."
King Abdullah said that something “dramatic'' must result from a meeting between US president George W Bush and Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki in Amman this week to stop the violence in Iraq spinning out of control.
"I don't think we're in a position where we can come back and revisit the problem in early 2007," he said on ABC's "This Week."
King Abdullah warns world of civil war
King Abdullah warns world of civil war