PM says Saddam loyalists infiltrated Iraq's Sahwa militia

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki told Iraqis on Friday that Al-Qaeda rebels and Saddam Hussein loyalists had infiltrated a pro-government militia that had helped to tame the country's deadly insurgency.

The premier used an hour-long interview on state-run television to say that rogue elements existed within the Sahwa, also known as the Awakening and Sons of Iraq, and that they would be hunted down and brought to justice.

"Our intelligence reports confirm that Al-Baath and Al-Qaeda have infiltrated Sahwas," Maliki told Al-Iraqiya, referring to executed dictator Saddam's political party and the notorious Islamist extremist group.

"It's not a question of Shiite and Sunni conflict. It's a question of an organised armed party that is banned and wants to create problems."

Maliki's comments follow deadly clashes in Baghdad last weekend and come as the former Sunni insurgents turned government and US-funded fighters completed a transfer to Iraqi control.

The violence saw two civilians killed and 15 wounded in fighting that followed the arrest of prominent Sahwa leader Adel Mashhadani on suspicion of murder and extortion.

US-backed Iraqi forces and the Sahwa, provoked by Mashhadani's detention, fought sporadic gunbattles in the ancient Baghdad district of Fadel, the worst violence seen in the capital for nearly a year.

Fighters were later ordered by the government to surrender their weapons or face reprisals.

"This is a message sent to the people taking the same path as organised criminals. No one should think that the state is not aware of their contacts," said Maliki of Mashhadani's arrest.

"The day will come where everyone will have to face justice."

His speech came hours after sources told AFP that dozens of Sahwa have been arrested.

"The Iraqi security forces, during the last few days, arrested 10 members of the Sahwa in Dora, including a number under the accusation of terrorism," said Mohammad al-Gartani, one of the southwest Baghdad district's Sahwa leaders.

He claimed that the Sahwa, who were formed to help fight Al-Qaeda, were being persecuted.

"We are very worried about the future of Sahwa forces, and we don't know where to go, because the government and the American forces are chasing us, and Al-Qaeda is targeting us," Gartani said.

The arrests in Dora, where the Awakening forces number about 2,450, included five Sahwa leaders.

Other commanders on Friday told AFP of further arrests.

In the western Baghdad district of Ghazaliyah, former Iraqi army Lieutenant Colonel Raad Ali was one of two Sahwa arrested eight days ago -- before Mashhadani's detention.

The statement said the men had been planting a roadside bomb.





show by Swiss National Circus Knie. REUTERS/Arnd Wiegmann

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