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Iraqi cabinet approves draft of new national guards forces

Xinhua, February 3, 2015 Adjust font size:

The Iraqi cabinet of Tuesday approved a draft to form a new national guards forces aimed at recruiting thousands of the Sunni Arab community in the fight against the Islamic State (IS) militant group, the official television reported.

"The Council of Ministers voted in the law of the national guards in its session today and will send it to the parliament to pass it," the state-run Iraqiya channel said.

Earlier, Bahaa al-Araji, Deputy Prime Minister and head of a committee tasked with drafting the law, told reporters that the law suggested to include the Shiite militias currently fighting the IS militants in addition to the Sunni recruits from the predominantly Sunni provinces under direct command of Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, who is also the Commander-in-Chief of the Iraqi armed forces.

The priority in joining the proposed forces is for the sons of Sunni tribes which are currently fighting the IS in the Sunni provinces, Araji said.

According to Iraqi law, the proposed law must be approved by the Iraqi parliament and the presidency council.

If passed, the law would allow the residents of the Sunni provinces to officially participate in the fight against the IS militant group and defend their own areas, after allegations of abuses and wrong acts by the Shiite militiamen whenever they free Sunni towns and villages. Endit