.Iraq PM warns police against politicizing
BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's prime minister warned police cadets Friday against favoring political or religious groups as they join a security force that has been heavily influenced by militias and extremists.
"In every mission awaiting you, you have to show that you are for all Iraqis without any sectarian affiliations," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told more than 2,900 graduates of the police academy in Baghdad.
Al-Maliki, who is a Shiite, said that the government had succeeded in curbing the influence of Shiite militias within the police force since a crackdown last spring.
He acknowledged that until recently, the public had little trust in the police because of infiltration.
During the ceremony, Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani said more than 24,600 people were dismissed last year from the police force because of alleged ties to Shiite militias.
Al-Bolani, who is also a Shiite, said the police forces currently number about 500,000, including local police and national paramilitary units.
From now on, he said "no sectarianism" and "no party affiliations" would be tolerated in their ranks.
U.S. officials have said the government has succeeded in reducing militia influence in police ranks. The United States is hoping to raise professional standards in the Iraqi police as part of the plan to hand over security responsibility to the Iraqis before the end of the U.S. military presence in the country by 2012.
Earlier Friday, a roadside bomb killed three worshippers on their way to prayers at a Shiite mosque in Baghdad, an Iraqi police officer said.
Six others were wounded when the bomb exploded shortly after noon near the Zahraa mosque, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release information.
MyWay
"In every mission awaiting you, you have to show that you are for all Iraqis without any sectarian affiliations," Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki told more than 2,900 graduates of the police academy in Baghdad.
Al-Maliki, who is a Shiite, said that the government had succeeded in curbing the influence of Shiite militias within the police force since a crackdown last spring.
He acknowledged that until recently, the public had little trust in the police because of infiltration.
During the ceremony, Interior Minister Jawad al-Bolani said more than 24,600 people were dismissed last year from the police force because of alleged ties to Shiite militias.
Al-Bolani, who is also a Shiite, said the police forces currently number about 500,000, including local police and national paramilitary units.
From now on, he said "no sectarianism" and "no party affiliations" would be tolerated in their ranks.
U.S. officials have said the government has succeeded in reducing militia influence in police ranks. The United States is hoping to raise professional standards in the Iraqi police as part of the plan to hand over security responsibility to the Iraqis before the end of the U.S. military presence in the country by 2012.
Earlier Friday, a roadside bomb killed three worshippers on their way to prayers at a Shiite mosque in Baghdad, an Iraqi police officer said.
Six others were wounded when the bomb exploded shortly after noon near the Zahraa mosque, said the officer, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to release information.
MyWay
posted by madtom at 8:07 PM
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