Iraq says militias hindering new security plan

http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/L20895427.htm

Iraq says militias hindering new security plan

BAGHDAD, June 20 (Reuters) - A senior Iraqi Defence Ministry official said on Tuesday that militia "interference" was hindering the efforts of security forces as they conduct a major security operation in Baghdad.

"We are finding that some of the militias are interfering in our work. We cannot operate effectively if there are people out there who are carrying weapons," Major General Abdul Aziz Mohammed told Reuters.

"If this problem is solved then I am sure security will stabilise for longer periods."

Militias loyal to the dominant Shi'ite political parties have been accused by Sunni groups of kidnapping and killing Sunnis. Shi'ite politicians deny sanctioning violence but have acknowledged that some militiamen and elements of the police force itself have been responsible for some such crimes.