Iraqi government approves bill on creation of National Guard
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 3 February 2015 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Iraqi government approves bill on creation of National Guard, 3 February 2015, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/54e1a4b0e.html [accessed 23 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
February 03, 2015
By RFE/RL's Radio Free Iraq
Iraq's cabinet on February 3 approved a draft law on creating a National Guard, a move Sunni political leaders say is necessary for national reconciliation between Sunnis, Shi'a, and Kurds.
Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi's spokesman, Rafid Jaboori, said sending the bill to parliament was "a way to confront" Islamic State militants who control large swaths of northern and western Iraq.
Sunni political and tribal leaders describe the plan as a way to handle their own security.
It calls for the National Guard to consist of locally based forces answering to provincial governments, and then the prime minister.
Sunni leaders hope it will empower Sunni communities that distrust Iraq's Army and national police.
Meanwhile, there were divisions over a separate bill to reform a ban against former Baath Party members in Iraq's government.
Sunni ministers boycotted that bill, saying the reforms do not go far enough, while the rest of the cabinet approved it.
With reporting by Reuters
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
