Dubai, Sept 15 (NNN-WAM) -- A United Arab Emirates (UAE) newspaper has termed Iraq as indeed an epic tragedy not witnessed in the past many centuries and called on Washington to change strategy and Arab capitals to forge a common stance on Iraq.

''Even the great tragedy of Palestine cannot be compared to what is unfolding in Iraq. While the Arab and Muslim world clearly knew where it stood on the question of Palestine� Israel conflict and who the aggressor is, Iraq defies all such classification,� commented the Khaleej Times.

In its daily editorial today, the Dubai-based paper said: '' in the nightmare called new Iraq, loyalties are all mixed up. On the one hand, Shias and Sunnis are both fighting the occupation.

On the other hand, they are fighting amongst themselves. The US invasion has not only savaged one of the richest and oldest countries in the world, it has opened the Pandora’s box in the form of a bloody conflict between the Shia majority and Sunni minority,'' the paper remarked.

''By their incredibly inept handling of the post� Invasion situation, the occupying powers has unleashed a hideous monster of sectarian bigotry. They have managed to achieve what successive regimes of Mesopotamia failed to do: The division of Iraqi people on sectarian and ethnic lines,'' the paper said.

“In the view of the paper Iraq is an unholy mess is hardly a state secret. However, now the extent of the never-ending tragedy is such that neighboring countries are beginning to feel the heat.

“UN chief Annan got the message during his recent visits to the region. Middle Eastern leaders are increasingly perturbed over Iraq and the clear and present danger it poses to the security and stability of the region, says Annan pointing out that the US is in a position where it "can’t stay and it cannot leave."

“On the one hand, the paper went on to say, scores of innocent civilians get caught in the crossfire between the occupying forces and the insurgents every day. On the other, defenseless members from the minority community are hounded and killed like animals by the murderous militias loyal to the political parties that are part of the ruling Shia alliance. Even yesterday, more than 60 bodies were found as violence flared up across Iraq.

''Three years after the Operation Freedom, the Bush administration remains clueless about ending the bloodshed in Iraq. Except for the regulation rhetoric declaring Iraq as the “Main front� in the so-called war on terror from time to time, the administration appears to have no credible plan or strategy to end the suffering of Iraqi people, ‘the paper indicated.

''Unless there’s a dramatic change of strategy in Washington or change of heart in Iraq, peace will continue to elude the country. Iraq’s neighbors and other Arab countries too have to get their act together. This is no time to stand and stare. If Iraq is lost, they will not remain unaffected.�