Iraqi government reluctant to train Sunnis

BAGHDAD, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Efforts to train Sunni police officers in Anbar province have been hampered by the Iraqi government, The New York Times reported Saturday.

The government refused to allow senior officers to be trained at the new Habbaniya Police Training Center, which was paid for by the United States.

"The Ministry of Interior deals with the Sunni provinces different than they deal with the other provinces," said Brig. Gen. David Phillips, who oversees the training of the Iraqi police. "The only reason the Anbar academy opened is because we built it, paid for it and staffed it."

In recent months, the U.S. military has been working with local groups in Anbar and other provinces dominated by Sunnis against insurgents. In September, President George W. Bush visited Anbar to praise U.S. progress there.

U.S. officials see training members of neighborhood watch groups as police officers as the next logical step. But the Shiite-dominated Iraqi government fears arming potential opponents, the newspaper said.