The Iraqi President Jalal Talabani has warned that widespread rebellion could engulf his war-torn country.
He was speaking as sectarian bloodshed over the past two days claimed the lives of more than 130 people.
Most of those killed are believed to be Sunnis who were gunned down in retaliation attacks after the bombing yesterday of a revered Shiite shrine.
The Iraqi government is to impose a daytime curfew on Baghdad and three surrounding provinces tomorrow in an effort to avert sectarian clashes on the Muslim day of prayer.
