Iraq’s Mosul to raise own force

 

By Jareer Mohammed

 

The Province of Nineveh of which Mosul is the capital has obtained the green light to raise a force of 14,000 fighters to reinstate law and order.

 

The force is to be financed and armed by the ministries of interior and defense, said governor Atheel al-Najaifi.

 

Najaifi made the remarks on arrival in Mosul following what he described as “a very positive” visit to Baghdad during which he held meetings with senior government officials and ministers.

 

Most of Nineveh Province, including the provincial capital Mosul, is still under the control of Kurdish militias known locally as peshmerga.

 

The presence of the militias is seen by Najaifi, whose bloc won the majority of seats in the provincial council in the latest elections, as a threat to peace.

 

The predominantly Sunni population of Nineveh opposes Kurdish covetous intentions in their region as well as the presence of their militias.

 

The formation of the new force has already angered the Kurds who allege that it will mainly be composed of sympathizers and supporters of the former regime.

 

However, the governor insists that the force will be drawn mainly from the people of Mosul to safeguard their restive city which has turned into a stronghold for anti-U.S. rebels and al-Qaeda.

 

Najaifi said he was given assurances that the central government will substantially boost allocations for public utilities and projects in a bid to lower the high employment rates in the city.

 

To calm fears on the presence of Kurdish militias in the province, Najaifi said he reiterated during his talks with the central government in Baghdad that there must be no role for militias in his province.

 

“The Iraqi army must be deployed in all areas of Iraq. We are proud of our national army and want it to be present everywhere,” the governor said alluding to his displeasure with the presence of Kurdish militias in his province.