Discussions centred on Syria and preventing the spread of sectarian unrest that began to be experienced in the region.

After the rioting of 1998 and the months of sectarian unrest that followed, most companies set up detailed evacuation procedures and telephone trees to notify employees of trouble.

Meanwhile, the Iraqi government revoked the broadcasting licenses of ten satellite television stations for "inciting sectarian unrest".

"They want to agitate sectarian unrest, but they won't succeed," he said.

"We warned them in July, in an official letter, not to incite violence and sectarian unrest," Mr. Majeed said.

Sheikh Baradei was reportedly a commander of the Sunni Islamist fighters, and his death led to further sectarian unrest within the city.

After the early 1920s, there were occasional incidents of sectarian unrest in Northern Ireland.

When Harris left India, having virtually ignored famine, riots and sectarian unrest, a publisher circulated a collection of newspaper extracts from his time as governor.

"Such barbaric carnage reveals the nature of the Saddamists and takfiri terrorists who seek to start sectarian unrest between Iraqi people," Mr. Maliki said in a written statement.

The Bahraini government consistently dismissed sectarian unrest as the work of Hezbollah terrorists instigated and supported by Iran.