RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice's appeal for Arab allies to help support the fragile government in Iraq drew only a tepid endorsement today from the administration's strongest ally in the region.

Saudi Foreign Minister Saud al-Faisal said Saudis hope President Bush's plan to reversse the situation in Iraq is successful, but was skeptical that the Iraqi government is up to the task of doing its part.

"We are hoping these objectives will be implemented, but the means are not in our hands," he said. "They are in the hands of the Iraqis themselves."

Al-Faisal spoke at length about the centuries old civilization in Iraq where Sunni and Shiite Muslims have been living together for years, but are now threatened by sectarian violence that has killed thousands.

"I cannot for the life of me conceive that a country like that would commit suicide," said al-Faisal, adding that he prefers not to speculate about what he called the "dire consequences" of a civil war.

Rice thanked the Saudis for their past help in urging national reconciliation in Iraq, but did not press specific new requests for the predominantly Sunni kingdom's help.

Although a distinct minority, Sunnis had dominated the government in Iraq until the U.S.-led ouster of Saddam Hussein left Shias in control.

Rice, who has said debt relief would be a good way for Saudi Arabia to help its neighbor, sounded more optimistic than al-Faisal about the will of the Iraqi government.

"As the president has said, Iraqis have to decide what kind of country they will be," Rice said.