London- Iraq faces the threat of civil war as it prepares for next week”s referendum on a new constitution, the Arab League”s secretary general said Saturday as a delegation headed to Iraq to prepare a reconciliation conference.

Secretary-General Amr Moussa said &#34 The situation is so tense there is a threat looming in the air about civil war that could erupt at any moment, although some people would say that it is already there,&#34 Moussa told British Broadcasting Corp. radio Saturday.

&#34We can”t just leave Iraq with the divisions and disagreements and conflicts and shootings,&#34 Moussa said.

&#34There is a policy to provoke and push communities against each other and there is another policy that would bring them together. It is our policy in the Arab League that the time has come for us to talk seriously about bringing them together.&#34

An Arab League delegation is making a five-day visit to Iraq after a meeting of Arab foreign ministers suggested the organization should help prepare for a national reconciliation conference.

Moussa is expected to go to Iraq later this month to chair the conference _ his first visit since the fall of the Saddam regime. It is not known whether the conference will be held before Iraqis vote on the draft constitution referendum on Oct. 15.