Iraqi dialogue forum debates government arms-collection plan

BAGHDAD, Iraq — The Civil National Dialogue Coordination Committee hosted a discussion at the Mansour Hotel in Baghdad attended by lawmakers and officials to debate the government's decision to bring weapons under state control, with an August 30 deadline set for the move. Judge Wail Abdullatif said Iraq's economy is facing serious difficulties and criticized the implementation of a four-year budget, calling instead for a return to annual budgeting. He added that some groups have not surrendered their weapons and that the ISIS threat has largely ended outside the rugged Kirkuk region in the west. Heydar al-Lami, a member of the political bureau of the Najah Movement, said Iraq has more than 24 domestic and foreign armed militias and that any disarmament decision must cover all groups from north to south. Lawmaker Shuruk al-Abaychi said national dialogue is the path to resolution and called for avoiding further tension. Former Deputy Prime Minister Salih al-Mutlak urged compliance with the disarmament decision. No further details on next steps were immediately available.