Former British Foreign Secretary Douglas Hurd Saturday blasted US policy in Iraq, saying democracy can not be imposed in the war-shattered country through the use offorce.

Hurd told BBC radio Saturday that Washington is mistaken in believing it is possible to impose democracy in the war-shattered country through the use of force.

"You really don't win hearts and minds by filling hospitals andmortuaries," Hurd said.

He said the recent upsurge in violence was "almost inevitable",saying that the US-led coalition should hand over power to Iraqis who have real influence in the country and not just those who have"curried favor" with Washington.

However, British Defense Secretary Geoff Hoon said in an interview with BBC Saturday that London believes the rebuilding ofIraq is progressing despite recent violence.

"The overall progress towards the reconstruction of Iraq cannotbe argued against," Hoon said, adding that life in Iraq is "measurably better" than it was a year ago.

Iraq witnessed its heaviest fighting last week since the US troops toppled the regime of former Iraqi President Saddam Husseina year ago.

US forces have been battling Sunni militiamen in Falluja and the nearby town of Ramadi, west of Baghdad. There have also been clashes with Shiite militiamen south of Baghdad in a week of bloody unrest that has killed several hundred Iraqis and at least 51 coalition troops.

British Foreign Secretary Jack Straw admitted Friday that the recent violence in Iraq represents the "most serious" threat facedby the coalition forces since US President George W. Bush declaredan end to major combat in Iraq last May.

Source: Xinhua