BAGHDAD: A senior Iraqi official pushed back a September 30 deadline for factions to hand over their weapons, without offering an explanation for the move or providing a new date. Iraq has come under pressure from the United States to rein in armed factions, particularly those close to Iran.
For several months, Iraq's government has stood by its deadline, but on Sunday, the security adviser to the prime minister, Qasim al Araji, told state media the process would only begin at the end of next month. "September 30 is the date for the international coalition to depart, not the deadline to hand over weapons," Araji told the Al Iraqiya broadcaster, referring to the coalition of US-led forces.
Government spokesman Haidar al Aboudi had made a similar announcement to local media on Friday, despite announcing in June that factions had until the end of September to disarm. September 30, he said, was "the date for the international coalition to end its presence, not the deadline for armed factions... Perhaps people are confusing the two." Since taking office in May, Prime Minister Ali al Zaidi has pledged to ensure the armed factions that emerged in the years that followed the US-led invasion hand over their weapons to the state. — AFP
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