.Iraq takes over Sunni anti-Qaeda fighters in Diyala
BAGHDAD (AFP) — Around 9,000 Sunni militia from restive Diyala province who have helped the United States battle Al-Qaeda will now take their payments from the Iraqi government, the US military said on Monday.
"It is a historic day, not only for Diyala, but for all of Iraq," Major General Robert Caslen, commanding general of the American forces in northern Iraq, said in a statement.
"With this new agreement, members of the Sons of Iraq will continue to assist in the security of Iraq.
"We have transitioned registered Sons of Iraq members with new positions in trade work, and some of them will ultimately work for the Iraqi Police or Iraqi Army."
Sahwa, or Awakening Councils, surfaced in September 2006, when a group of Sunni tribesmen who were former insurgents linked to al-Qaeda in Anbar province formed themselves into a group to help US troops fight Al-Qaeda.
Funded with US money, they are credited with greatly contributing to the decline in violence in Iraq since the latter half of 2007.
In October 2008, the US military announced that they would gradually stop funding them and Sahwa fighters would come under Iraqi government control.
According to the US military, 76 percent of a total of 100,000 Sahwa fighters are now under Iraqi government responsibility.
However Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has provoked tensions by saying he would only integrate 20 percent of Sahwa groups into the national military forces.
Diyala province in central Iraq is considered one of the most dangerous in in the country as it is regularly hit by attacks, many of them carried out female suicide bombers.
AFP
"It is a historic day, not only for Diyala, but for all of Iraq," Major General Robert Caslen, commanding general of the American forces in northern Iraq, said in a statement.
"With this new agreement, members of the Sons of Iraq will continue to assist in the security of Iraq.
"We have transitioned registered Sons of Iraq members with new positions in trade work, and some of them will ultimately work for the Iraqi Police or Iraqi Army."
Sahwa, or Awakening Councils, surfaced in September 2006, when a group of Sunni tribesmen who were former insurgents linked to al-Qaeda in Anbar province formed themselves into a group to help US troops fight Al-Qaeda.
Funded with US money, they are credited with greatly contributing to the decline in violence in Iraq since the latter half of 2007.
In October 2008, the US military announced that they would gradually stop funding them and Sahwa fighters would come under Iraqi government control.
According to the US military, 76 percent of a total of 100,000 Sahwa fighters are now under Iraqi government responsibility.
However Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki has provoked tensions by saying he would only integrate 20 percent of Sahwa groups into the national military forces.
Diyala province in central Iraq is considered one of the most dangerous in in the country as it is regularly hit by attacks, many of them carried out female suicide bombers.
AFP
posted by madtom at 9:08 PM
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