Ex-Iraqi premier calls for disbanding Hashd al-Shaabi
- World
- Anadolu Agency
- Published Date: 01:33 | 14 April 2019
- Modified Date: 01:33 | 14 April 2019
Former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi has called for disbanding the Hashd al-Shaabi, a largely Shia paramilitary force that provides support for government troops.
"The mission of the Hashd al-Shaabi has ended after victory against the Daesh terrorist group," Allawi, the head of Al-Wataniya coalition, said in statements.
He proposed that members of the paramilitary force could join the Iraqi police or military forces.
"The dissolution of Hashd al-Shaabi is a move to turn Iraq into a civilian state," Allawi, whose coalition has 21 seats in the 329-member parliament, argued.
Established in 2014 with the express purpose of fighting Daesh, the Hashd al-Shaabi was formally incorporated into the Iraqi army in 2017.
The Shia force has been accused in the past of committing abuses against non-Shia residents of areas recently liberated from Daesh -- allegations that the Hashd al-Shaabi denies.
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