BAGHDAD, Feb 10 (Reuters) - The new U.S. military commander in Iraq, General David Petraeus, warned on Saturday that failure to stabilise the country would condemn Iraq to continued civil strife.

"The prospects for success are good," he said, referring to a new crackdown to curb sectarian violence in Baghdad. "Failing that, Iraq will be doomed to continuing violence and civil strife and surely that is a prospect all must strive to avoid."

"The stakes are very high," he said, after taking over command of America's 130,000 troops in the country from General George Casey.

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