BAGHDAD, Oct. 2 Iraq's ruling Shiite coalition on Tuesday criticized a U.S. plan to provide Sunni Al-Sahwa Councils with weapons to fight al-Qaida aligned groups.
The coalition said in a statement that providing the councils, which were set up by the United States to combat militant Sunni groups, with weaponry would yield unpredictable consequences and could contribute to instability in Baghdad and other locations, KUNA, the Kuwait News Agency, reported Tuesday.
"The armed gangs, who are fighting the Iraqi people, could never be trusted with the best interest of the Iraqis. They are sure to capitalize on any security vacuum to commit more crimes and brutalities just as they did in the past," the statement said.
The coalition warned that arming the groups could lead to the "establishment of new militias."
"Such masked armed groups are committing their criminal operations under a U.S. cover," it said.
Copyright 2007 by UPI
