Iraq at Risk Of Civil War, Top Generals Tell Senators

Later, in an interview with the Associated Press, Clinton called on Rumsfeld to resign.

In the confidential memo obtained by the BBC, William Patey, Britain's top civil servant in Baghdad until last week, wrote that "the prospect of a low intensity civil war and a de facto division of Iraq is probably more likely at this stage than a successful and substantial transition to a stable democracy."

"Even the lowered expectation of President Bush for Iraq -- a government that can sustain itself, defend itself and govern itself and is an ally in the war on terror -- must remain in doubt," Patey said, adding that "the position is not hopeless" and the "next six months are crucial" although Iraq would be "messy and difficult" for the next five to 10 years.

Commentators in London called the memo a new political setback for Blair, who as Bush's closest ally in Iraq has been publicly optimistic.

At a lengthy news conference yesterday, Blair said that if the memo were read in its entirety, it would show no inconsistency with what British government officials have been saying.

Also yesterday, the Senate intelligence committee requested a new National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq. "It's clear that current sectarian violence and increased militia attacks are endangering efforts to achieve stability in Iraq," Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) said in a statement.

Nearly four years ago, the committee received an estimate that contended that Iraq had biological and chemical weapons in addition to an active nuclear weapons program.

Jordan reported from London. Staff writer Dafna Linzer and researcher Julie Tate contributed to this report.