U.S. Marines See Falluja Brigade in New Iraq Army

By Ibon Villelabeitia

FALLUJA, Iraq (Reuters) - A militia charged with keeping the peace in the flashpoint city of Falluja may become the nucleus of Iraq (news - web sites)'s new army after an interim Iraqi government takes over on June 30, U.S. military commanders said Sunday.



Set up under a peace agreement to end clashes between U.S. troops and insurgents, the 2,000-strong Falluja Brigade is composed mainly of Baathists who served in Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s army, which was disbanded by U.S. forces after Saddam's fall.


The top Marine commander in Iraq is holding talks with Iraqi Defense Ministry official on plans to integrate the brigade into the Iraqi army after U.S. authorities have handed power back to Iraqis, Marine Colonel John Toolan said.


"Is the Falluja Brigade becoming a nucleus for an army or will the Falluja Brigade be integrated into the ICDC?" Toolan asked, referring to the U.S.-backed Iraqi Civil Defense Force (ICDC).
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