Leaders of Iraq Back Militias, Widening Rift With Sunnis
The rift between the Iraqi government and hostile Sunni Arabs widened further on Wednesday as the country’s leaders came out in support of ethnic and sectarian militias that Sunnis fear could be used against them. Top Sunni Arab leaders also demanded that a 55-member committee that is to begin writing a new constitution add at least 25 Sunni seats with full voting powers. In recent days the Shiite-led committee has proposed adding 12 to 15 nonvoting seats for Sunni Arabs. Full Story