Lawrence Journal World in Lawrence, Kansas

Shiite government vows disbanding Sunni militias as calm returns

Iraq's Shiite-led government said it will dismantle Awakening Councils, the Sunni militias once backed by the United States, seeking to prevent a separate military force. Defense Minister al-Obaidi rejected the idea of the groups becoming a long-term independent army while signaling absorption into security services and job training. Kurdish rebels bombed by Turkish warplanes and shelling were reported as cross-border tensions persisted. Thousands of Baghdad residents welcomed the relative security with Eid approaching, though violence remains.