Iraq's Maliki says militias must join armed forces

BAGHDAD, April 22 (Reuters) - Iraq's Prime Minister- designate Jawad al-Maliki said on Saturday the country's militias must merge with the U.S.-trained armed forces, despite calls from the United States to disarm them.

"Arms should be in the hands of the government. There is a law that calls for the merging of militias with the armed forces," Maliki said in his first policy speech after he was asked by President Jalal Talabani to head Iraq's new government.

Iraq's interim government has promised several times it will disband Iraq's powerful sectarian militias but has never delivered. Militias are tied to political parties so disbanding them would be highly sensitive.

`snip~

Several militia groups, drawn along ethnic and religious lines, operate in Iraq, and U.S ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad has said they are killing more people than insurgents.


more:http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/IBO254010.htm

Maliki might have a more sane approach if he can really pull off the integration.

And they've "joined" the police forces.

Just saying, is all.

Everyone living in Iraq has to eat every bite, every day. :(