By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : The Iraqi government is determined to impose law in the country so it will staunchly deal with militias, an Iraqi security spokesman said here.
This is the first response to a recent announcement by Shia leader Mqtada al-Sadr that only a group of his Al-Mahdi Army would be allowed to take up weapons.
Backed by US forces, Iraqi troops and police have been sent to the southern city of Amara, capital of Maysan province, in a fresh operation against Shia gunmen. Iraqi army tanks have been patrolling major streets in the city and the security forces have set up checkpoints.
The new operation is the latest drive by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki to impose his authority.
The military operation in Maysan is mainly intended to disarm militiamen and impose law and order in the province, spokesman for the Iraqi Ministry of Defence Maj-Gen Mohamed Al-Askari told a news conference here Sunday.
He however said that no exact date was set for the launching of the operation in Maysan, which the Iraqi prime minister declared as a disarmed city and gave militiamen enough time to put down their firearms.
“The military operations to be launched in Maysan aim to disarm militias, reimpose law in the province and restore government buildings, including parties and forces, from them,” he said.
He vowed that Iraqi military operations would involve all Iraqi provinces in a bid to impose law and order there.
Earlier Sunday, the Maysan police chief was given the axe as part of preparations for the looming military operation in Amara, the last stronghold for militias in Iraq.
The Iraqi government also plans to launch a fresh military operation in the province of Diyala, northeast of Baghdad, to smoke out Al-Qaeda elements there.
“The Command of Operations in Baghdad is setting security plans to launch a major military operation against Al-Qaeda elements in Diyala,” the Iraqi defence spokesman said.
He condemned the Al-Qaeda organisation for using children in its armed operations in the country. “Al-Qaeda has resorted to use children in armed operations as it failed to prevail on adults to work with it. It is emphatically an unacceptable thing that violates human rights,” Al-Askari said.