Iraq militia says to keep weapons, citing instability

17 Jan 2012 18:11Source: Reuters // Reuters* Militia cites uncertainty over U.S. embassy in Baghdad* U.S. says Kata'ib Hizballah funded by IranBy Aref MohammedBASRA, Iraq, Jan 17 (Reuters) - A Shi'ite militia that fought U.S. troops in Iraq said on Tuesday it will not lay down its arms immediately despite the departure of American forces.Abu Mustafa al-Khazali, one of the commanders of Kata'ib Hizballah, cited unstable Iraqi politics and uncertainty about the mission and size of the U.S. embassy in Baghdad as reasons for maintaining its war posture.The leader of Asaib al-Haq, another Shi'ite militia that opposed U.S. troops in Iraq, said this month the group would lay down its weapons after a "historic Iraqi victory" over American forces.U.S. military commanders named Asaib al-Haq and Kata'ib Hizballah as major forces on the Iraq battlefield in recent years and said both are funded and armed by neighbouring Iran."Challenges still exist, and real clarity is still missing on the number of individuals at the U.S. embassy. Risks still exist and the political process is unstable," Khazali said.With the departure of the last U.S. troops on Dec. 18, the U.S. mission in Iraq was left to the embassy in Baghdad, one of America's largest. It is expected to have about 16,000 personnel, including thousands of security contractors.Khazali spoke at a ceremony organised by Shi'ite militia brigades in the southern oil hub of Basra, where hundreds of supporters cheered the "victorious" Iraqi resistance. Iraqi police secured the event, which was attended by politicians and community leaders."No to America!" Khazali chanted to supporters. He was wearing a grey suit and shirt open at the neck, without a tie, in the style of Iranian politicians."I congratulate the great people of Iraq for this remarkable victory... It's a defeat for the American forces, not a withdrawal."Iraq is plagued by Sunni Islamist insurgents and Shi'ite militias nearly nine years after the 2003 U.S.-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein and unleashed sectarian violence that killed tens of thousands of people.U.S. and Iraqi officials have flagged Shi'ite militias, equipped and trained by powerful regional players such as Iran, as ongoing threats to Iraq's stability as its security forces try to cope with daily bombings, assassinations and other attacks without U.S. troops.Khazali said it was still too early for Kata'ib Hizballah to think of joining the political process, but he said his group supported government efforts to maintain peace and stability."Today Iraq is in our own hands, run by an elected government, with no return to the pressure of foreign troops, conspiracies, mass graves and coups," Khazali said. "Any changes should be made through the ballot box."He said his militia had no plan to join any political group and had concerns about the current political crisis, which began after the U.S. departure when the Shi'ite-led government moved against two Sunni politicians, reviving fears of sectarian conflict."A lot of work needs to be done for a better future in Iraq. There are still some challenges and we don't have a clear understanding of what's going on in the political arena," he said. (Writing by Ahmed Rasheed; Editing by Jim Loney)=======================Iraq risks slipping into authoritarianism - rights group22 Jan 2012 12:23Source: Reuters // Reuters* Report cites abuses of protesters* Security forces harassing journalists, it saysBAGHDAD, Jan 22 (Reuters) - Iraq risks sliding back towards authoritarian rule with Shi'ite Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's security forces cracking down on protests, harassing opponents and torturing detainees, a U.S.-based human rights monitor said on Sunday.In its annual world report, New York-based Human Rights Watch said Iraqi authorities had suppressed freedom of expression and assembly, beaten and detained anti-government protesters and run a secret prison where suspects are tortured.The report was issued a month after the last U.S. troops left Iraq nearly nine years after the invasion that ousted Sunni dictator Saddam Hussein and allowed the country's Shi'ite majority to rise to power in an elected government."Iraq is quickly slipping back into authoritarianism as its security forces abuse protesters, harass journalists, and torture detainees," Sarah Leah Whitson from Human Rights Watch said in a statement released with the annual report."Despite U.S. government assurances that it helped create a stable democracy, the reality is that it left behind a budding police state."A government spokesman did not have any immediate comment on the report.Early last year, thousands protested across Iraq about a lack of basic services in demonstrations prompted in part by the Arab Spring against authoritarian rulers in the region.At least 10 people were killed in one day of protests after security forces clamped down on protesters trying to storm government buildings. The most violent clashes were in the northern city of Mosul and Basra in the south.The report also said journalists were often harassed.It said authorities had raided a press freedom organisation and journalists reporting on the protests had been arrested and beaten. In semi-autonomous Iraqi Kurdistan, the regional government had suppressed local journalists by using death threats and beatings, it said.In February, Human Rights Watch said it had uncovered a secret detention facility controlled by Iraqi security forces, where detainees said they had been tortured, the report said. No officials were prosecuted for the abuses, it added.Maliki, whose Shi'ite coalition dominates parliament, triggered a political crisis in December when his government ordered the arrest of a Sunni vice president and sought to oust one of his Sunni deputies.The Shi'ite leader says the moves were not politically motivated. But some minority Sunnis fear they are increasingly sidelined from political power-sharing and that Maliki is trying to consolidate his own authority. (Reporting by Patrick Markey)=================

jack healy ‏ @jackhealyNYT

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Just noticing: In Baghdad, posters of Moktada al Sadr in military garb. are these new? Can't tell if they're photoshopped #iraq
4h Reidar Visser Reidar Visser ‏ @reidarvisser

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@jackhealyNYT Posters of Sadr in army fatigues have been around for a while, seen on internet at least since 2011
1h Mousa Baraka Mousa Baraka ‏ @MousaBaraka

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@reidarvisser @jackhealyNYT some say images part of failed attempt to project himself as Iraq's Nasrallah. Ties between 2 groups well known
Reidar Visser Reidar Visser ‏ @reidarvisser

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@MousaBaraka @jackhealyNYT The Sadr images reminded me of pics of Muhd Baqir Hakim in uniform during Iran/Iraq War