US Republican Party Says Baghdad Weapons Policy Could Bring Long-Term Stability

WASHINGTON, United States — The U.S. Republican Party has welcomed decisions by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zeydi to place weapons under state monopoly, saying Washington views the steps positively and believes long-term stability requires state control over arms. Republican Malcolm Francisco told Sharq al-Ayyam that the weapons issue outside state control represents the true test of the Iraqi government's capacity to assert authority. Washington believes resolving the matter outside state hands would demonstrate whether Baghdad can enforce its decisions. Security Media Cell head Lieutenant General Sad Muin previously announced the first practical steps toward integrating armed groups into the official security structure, reporting that Sirriye es-Salam's headquarters and weapons in Samarra were handed over to the state. The Shiite Coordination Framework gave al-Ali al-Zeydi authority to take the necessary decisions, according to the report. Ashariq Ehl el-Hak, Imam Ali Brigades and other groups also announced similar steps. Kataib Hezbollah, however, refused to hand over weapons and instead proposed that the state purchase them.