Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They
AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e
BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German
Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who
By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an
My Profile
Postcards to the President
Messages from citizens around the world
Watch Now
You are here:
Home
>
News
>
International
>
Article
Home
Business & Finance
News
U.S.
Politics
International
Technology
Entertainment
Sports
Lifestyle
Oddly Enough
Environment
Health
Science
Special Coverage
Video
Pictures
You Witness
The Great Debate
Blogs
Reader Feedback
Do More With Reuters
RSS
Widgets
Mobile
Podcasts
Newsletters
You Witness News
Make Reuters My Homepage
Partner Services
CareerBuilder
Affiliate Network
Professional Products
Support (Customer Zone)
Reuters Media
Financial Products
About Thomson Reuters
Iraqi Sunni guards join Shi'ite government payroll
Tue Nov 11, 2008 8:20pm EST
Email | Print |
Share
| Reprints | Single Page
[-]
Text
[+]
By Tim Cocks
BAGHDAD (Reuters) - From a money-counting table stacked with cash to a staircase out in the hallway, a long line of U.S.-backed Iraqi fighters wait patiently for their dues.
It's pay week for the patrolmen who helped flush al Qaeda militants out of their Baghdad neighborhoods. Only this time, it is the Shi'ite-led Iraqi government that is paying the mainly Sunni fighters, rather than the U.S. military.
Putting the fighters, many of whom were once insurgents, on the payroll of a government they once fought is seen as a major test of reconciliation as U.S. troops prepare to withdraw.
The Iraqi army began paying them at dozens of stations opened this week throughout Baghdad.
The U.S. military says the fighters number 100,000, about half of them in Baghdad province. The government took charge of the Baghdad fighters last month and plans to take on those in other parts of the country in coming months.
They had been receiving $300 a month from the U.S. military and the government pay stations are now handing out the equivalent in Iraqi dinars. Some 19,000 fighters are expected to be paid this way by Nov 17, the first round.
Many former insurgents in the program have feared arrest. Others feared being abandoned by the government, which has promised jobs in the army or police for just 20 percent of them but says it will find civilian work or training for the rest.
"We were worried for the future. But right now, things are looking good," said Mohammed Saddam Mohammed, 25, as he leafed through a wad of Iraqi dinars to check it was the right amount at an army station in Baghdad's Rasheed district.
"Our main concern is pay. As long as they money is still there, we can survive and feed our families."
Called Awakening Councils or "Sahwa" in Arabic, the units led mostly by local Sunni Arab tribal sheikhs began turning against al Qaeda militants two years ago in western Iraq's Anbar province, providing a model that was rolled out nationwide.
"DOOM AND GLOOM"
Iraq has pledged to keep paying them until other jobs are found, as long as they register with the government. Despite predictions many would stay away, fearing reprisals, most of the Sahwa members in Baghdad did register.
"We've been through all the doom and gloom," said Brigadier-General Robin Swan, a deputy commander of U.S. forces in Baghdad. "They'll be arrested in droves, the government won't pay them, the Iraqi army will ostracize them ... Exactly (the opposite) ... is what's happened."
Iraqi officials hope the Sahwas' first pay week in government hands will help build up long-lacking trust.
"They can see with their own eyes we intend to pay salaries and in the long run give them a chance to find jobs," said Iraqi Major-General Mudhar al-Mawla, who is overseeing the transition. Continued...
View article on single page
Share:
Del.icio.us
Digg
Mixx
My Web
Facebook
LinkedIn
Next Article:
Raul Castro says Cuban storm losses near $10 billion
Also on Reuters
Shopping amid bombings in Baghdad's vibrant souks
Galapagos bachelor turtle struggles to be a dad
Cell phone shopping makes wallets redundant in Japan
Editor's Choice
Pictures
Video
Articles
Slideshow
A selection of our best photos from the past 24 hours. Slideshow
Volcano
Solar City
Spears' son
Entertainment: Clue to Beatles enigma for sale
International: Chinese students try democracy
Lifestyle: Laura Bush's tips for Michelle Obama
Most Popular on Reuters
Articles
Video
Recommended
Ski resort for super rich files for bankruptcy
Iran test-fires new missile near Iraq: state media
Palin says not interested in running for Senate | Video
Obama daughters asked to appear on "Hannah Montana" | Video
Obama urges action as Asian, European data gloomy | Video
GM shares hit 65-year low amid liquidity concerns | Video
RPT-UPDATE 1-White House says Bush didn't link trade, autos
Laura Bush shares White House tips with Michelle Obama
White House says Bush says didn't link trade, autos | Video
Obama tries being regular guy for a while longer
Most Popular Articles RSS Feed
Video
Bush honors Veterans Day
The search for First Dog
U.S. automakers appeal for help
World's longest legs
Michelle Obama as First Lady
Talk of the Town: 007 too violent?
Obama's historic White House visit
Little Ceasars helps disabled vets
Obama, Bush meet at White House
Remembering the WW1 fallen
Most Popular Videos RSS Feed
The Great Debate
Criticism or blasphemy?
Where is the dividing line between acceptable and unacceptable criticism of religion? How should the media cover issues that offend certain believers? Blog
Reuters Deals
The global destination for corporate leaders, deal-makers and innovators
Knowledge to Act
Reuters.com:
Help and Contact Us |
Advertise With Us |
Mobile |
Newsletters |
RSS |
Interactive TV |
Labs |
Reuters in Second Life |
Archive |
Site Index |
Video Index
Thomson Reuters Corporate:
Copyright |
Disclaimer |
Privacy |
Professional Products |
Professional Products Support |
About Thomson Reuters |
Careers
International Editions:
Africa |
Arabic |
Argentina |
Brazil |
Canada |
China |
France |
Germany |
India |
Italy |
Japan |
Latin America |
Mexico |
Russia |
Spain |
United Kingdom |
United States
Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests.
NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.