"I was against this invasion and my fears have been founded. The break-up of the Iraqi forces poured hundreds if not thousands of disgruntled soldiers and police officers onto the streets," Kofi Annan told the Munich Security Conference on Sunday, RT reported.
"The aim of creating democracy without the existing institutions ushered in corrupt sectarian governments," Annan said.
In order to halt the spread of extremism, Annan said that governments must do more to tackle problems such as unemployment.