"What is taking place in Iraqi cities had never been seen in medieval ages or even deep in history when the law of the jungle was predominant," Al-Watan newspaper said.

"The question is: What are the US-British forces, which claimed that they had come to 'liberate' the Iraqi people, bringing democracy and freedom from the regime's oppression, doing?," asked the paper.

"Why are the American forces only watching?. Why have they even come to Iraq?. Why don't they have a plan for the security of areas they occupy?," it added.

"The whole world is required to move to rescue the Iraqi people from a humanitarian catastrophe that has no parallel in modern history."

Okaz newspaper warned that Iraq may disintegrate if law and order was not brought under control.

"What is more serious is that selfish interests and sectarian conflicts between various political and ideological forces may dominate, thus making a foreign presence in Iraq an extreme necessity," the paper said.

Al-Riyadh charged that looting and destruction were being encouraged by the invading forces.

"Subjecting the country's resources to looting, with the encouragement of the invading forces, aims at keeping the Iraqi people engaged in acts of revenge and tribal and sectarian wars, so the US-British saviours can convince the Iraqi people they are needed," the semi-official paper said.

The English-language Arab News warned the Americans will not be able to win over Iraqis amid anarchy.

"The anarchy has to be halted. If it is not, the Americans and British can forget about the campaign for Iraqi hearts and minds. It will have been lost before it got started," it said.

SPACE.WIRE