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Iraqi PM vows to tackle militias Iraqi PM vows to tackle militias
(about 1 hour later)
Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has pledged to tackle illegal militias, which are widely blamed for the growing sectarian violence in the country.Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki has pledged to tackle illegal militias, which are widely blamed for the growing sectarian violence in the country.
"We will strike hard at anyone who defies the law," Mr Maliki said. He said his forces would strike hard at anyone who defied the law.
His comments come a day after the US ambassador said Iraqi leaders had agreed to a timetable for achieving key goals, including tackling the militias. But he insisted he was working to his own timetable, not a US-imposed deadline for improving security.
Overnight, Iraqi forces raided Baghdad's Sadr City, a militia bastion, hunting a suspected death squad leader. Mr Maliki also said there had been a lack of coordination with coalition forces over a raid in Baghdad's Sadr City that resulted in four deaths.
Iraqi forces came under fire and called for backup from US aircraft, according to a US military statement. Iraqi special forces went into Sadr City, a stronghold of the Mehdi army militia, overnight to try to capture "a top illegal armed group commander" who directed death squads in eastern Baghdad, a US military statement said.
Timetable Iraqi forces came under fire and called for backup from US aircraft, which used "precision gunfire only to eliminate the enemy threat", the statement said.
In a nationally televised news conference on Wednesday, Mr Maliki vowed to deal with the militias. There has been no indication of whether the suspected militia leader was captured.
"The state is the only one that has the right to carry weapons," he said. "We will strike hard at anyone who defies the law or transgresses the authority of the state." At least four people were killed and about 20 injured, provoking anger in Sadr City.
Explanation sought
Relatives and the wounded blamed US forces and the Maliki government, Reuters news agency reported.
Baghdad diary: What options? Iraq's insurgent groupsBaghdad diary: What options? Iraq's insurgent groups
The Iraqi prime minister has repeatedly pledged to tackle the militias but correspondents say he also has to balance the demands of his coalition government. This includes Shia parties that have powerful militias. "Where is Maliki? Where is his freedom?" one man lying on a stretcher said.
The timing of his latest announcement is significant, coming a day after key figures in the Bush administration put more pressure on the Iraqi government to take greater responsibility for the security situation. Mr Maliki, speaking at a televised news conference, sought to distance himself from the operation, saying he had not been consulted.
The US ambassador, Zalmay Khalilzad, said Iraqi leaders had agreed to a timetable of political and security measures, including action against the militias. "We will be seeking a full explanation from the multi-national forces," he said.
Mr Maliki pledged to deal with the militias that are blamed for much of the sectarian violence in Iraq.
"We will strike hard at anyone who defies the law or transgresses the authority of the state," he said.
But he denied that the Iraqi government had accepted a US time-frame for curbing the violence.
"I affirm that this government represents the will of the people and no-one has the right to impose a timetable on it," Mr Maliki said.
US expectations
On Tuesday, key figures in the Bush administration outlined a series of measures to try to stabilise Iraq, including a plan to reform Iraqi security ministries.
US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad said the Iraqi government had agreed to develop a timeline for progress by the end of the year, including action against the militias.
Nouri Maliki seen here with Moqtada Sadr has to tread a fine political line
Mr Khalilzad said he expected "significant progress" within the next 12 months.Mr Khalilzad said he expected "significant progress" within the next 12 months.
He singled out the Mehdi army, saying it must be "brought under control, it has to be decommissioned, demobilised and re-integrated like other militias".He singled out the Mehdi army, saying it must be "brought under control, it has to be decommissioned, demobilised and re-integrated like other militias".
The Mehdi army, a militia linked to Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr that holds sway in much of Sadr City, has repeatedly been accused of involvement in death squads carrying out attacks on Sunnis.The Mehdi army, a militia linked to Shia cleric Moqtada Sadr that holds sway in much of Sadr City, has repeatedly been accused of involvement in death squads carrying out attacks on Sunnis.
However, Mr Sadr has at times called for calm amid rising sectarian tensions and analysts say it is unclear how much control he has over the network of armed groups linked to the Mehdi army. Correspondents say tackling the Mehdi army and other Shia militias is one of the most difficult problems facing Mr Maliki.
Anger His fragile coalition government includes Shia parties that have links to powerful militias.
Wednesday's raid on Sadr City was launched to capture a "top illegal armed group commander directing widespread death squad activity throughout eastern Baghdad," the US military said.
"During the raid, Iraqi Army forces came under fire and had to defend themselves," the statement said.
They called for support from coalition aircraft which used "precision gunfire only to eliminate the enemy threat".
Witnesses quoted by AFP news agency said a gun battle lasted for more than two hours.
A hospital worker says the scene was so chaotic that ambulances found it hard to reach the injured.
Reports say at least four people were killed and a dozen injured.
Angry relatives and the injured blamed US forces and the Maliki government, Reuters reported.
"Where is Maliki? Where is his freedom?" one man lying on a stretcher said.
There has been no indication of whether the suspected militia leader was captured.