One year ago, the US-led coalition troops entered Baghdad and occupied the Middle East country. Now the Iraqi security situation is even worse than before.

Park Jong-pyung, head of the Middle East Institute of the Foreign Language University of the Republic of Korea, recently received an interview by Xinhua on the Iraqi issue.

Professor Park said that conflict between Iraqi Sunnite, the Shiites and the US forces may develop to a long-lasting issue. US occupation in Iraq only can complicate the situation of the Middle East country. The only way to solve the crisis is to let United Nations play important role in the rehabilitation of Iraq.

"One year has passed and Bush's administration still has not given the Iraq War a just name," said Park, adding the US failed to find any "weapons of mass destruction" in Iraq.

On reason why conflict between Iraqi people and US coalition troops escalated recently, the professor said the sticking point is US policy in Iraq is against the will of Iraqi civilians.

Iraqi Sunnite, who previously supported Saddam's rule in the country, was hit by US military actions against pro-Saddam's forces. These directly led to animosity against US in Sunnite, said Park.

Recently, US troops and the Sunni Muslim fighters had fierce battles in Falluja, which cost 600 local Iraqi civilians dead and other 1,250 wounded.

Park also pointed out, the economy and security situation in Iraq in the past year did not look up, but deteriorated. These were far below the expectation of Iraqi Shiites', which turned Shiites' disappointment over US to hatred.

What most important is US policies in Iraq badly hurt the proper pride of Iraqi people. What they really want is US to end the occupation in their own country and Iraq's sovereignty be resumed, stressed Park.

On solution of the Iraqi issue, the professor underscored the UN should play important role in dealing with the Iraqi issue. "It is also the common understanding of international community," added Park.

Under the occupation of US, Iraqi issue cannot be solved, but become more complicated, said Park, adding the US coalition troops launched the Iraq War without authorization of UN.

"It is highly possible to solve the Iraqi issue within the framework of UN with the cooperation of international community," said Park. And he also stressed Iraq's sovereignty and executive rights should be returned to Iraqi people as soon as possible.

(Xinhua News Agency April 14, 2004)