Iraq's prime minister-designate called on the country's numerous Shiite militias and tribes to come under government control and stop acting independently today, as violence across the country killed at least 43 people in areas where the Muslim sect dominates.
The comments by Haider al-Abadi came at his first press conference since accepting the nomination to be Iraq's next prime minister, underlining how he is attempting to address the worries of the country's Sunnis, who say that Shiite militias are targeting them in religiously-mixed areas.
He added that discussions between political rivals to form a new government were "constructive and positive."
"We will never allow any armed group to operate outside of the framework of the state," al-Abadi told reporters at the presidential palace in Baghdad's fortified Green Zone.
"They all should be within the state framework and under the control of the security forces," said al-Abadi.
A number of Shiite militias have answered a call by influential Iraq-based Shiite cleric Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, and outgoing Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, to support the Iraqi military, after large divisions fled from Islamic State militants in the northern cities of Mosul and Tikrit. A number of Sunni tribes also oppose the militant group.
Al-Abadi also expressed optimism that he will meet the September 10 deadline to form a new government.
"Several meetings and dialogues were held with the political blocs to form a unified vision for our governmental program, he said.
"The negotiations were generally positive and constructive. I hope we will agree to form a unified vision for the governmental program in the next two days."
Also today, separate attacks in several cities, including Baghdad, killed at least 43 people and wounded dozens in Shiite-majority areas.
The deadliest was carried out by a suicide bomber who blew up an explosives-laden vest among Shiite worshippers leaving a mosque after noon prayers in the capital's eastern New Baghdad area, killing at least 15 and wounding 32 others, a police officer said.
