Militia Issue Poses a Hurdle for Iraqi Leader
Iraq’s prime minister-designate continued to send mixed signals about militias, even as the U.S. ambassador said Sunday that disbanding the armed groups was the most important step toward preventing a civil war. Jawad Maliki, a leading Shiite Muslim political figure who was endorsed as prime minister by parliament Saturday, has 30 days to form a Cabinet that meets the elected body’s approval. But as the politicians begin to haggle over influence and jostle for powerful government posts, the problem of militias has already emerged as the biggest challenge. Full Story