Iraqi Militia Groups to be Dissolved

The statement on disbanning militia groups came from Iraqi Prime Minister Allawi. Allawi reported that almost 100,000 militia groups would put down their arms in accordance with the agreement signed by nine militia organizations. Allavi said, “According to this directive, armed forces not under state control are declared illegal.” He added that he would issue a directive to put the ban into practice.

Iraqi Prime Minister, Iyad Allawi, said that the agreement also includes Peshmargas, members of Kurdish parties, and the Bedr Brigade of the Iraqi Islam Revolution Supreme Council. However, the Mehdi army of Shiite Leader Muqtada Al-Sadr was excluded from the agreement.

The Iraqi Kurdistan Democrat Party (KDP), the Iraqi Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), three Shiite organizations, the Iraqi Islam Revolution Supreme Council, Iraqi Hezbollah and the Islamic Dava Party, a sunni Iraqi Islamic party, and three secular movements (the Iraqi Communist Party, the Iraqi National Congress and the National Iraqi Alliance) are among the forces that will be dissolved.

Militia groups were declared to be illegal by the temporary Constitution approved in March.