Awakening Councils unhappy with Iraq moves

BAGHDAD, March 24 (UPI) -- Sunni Arab militiamen who had been paid by the U.S. military say their integration into the Iraqi military isn't going well.

Only 5 percent of the members of the Awakening Councils -- one-time anti-American insurgents who were convinced to join the United States' fight against al-Qaida and other militant groups -- have been given permanent jobs in the Iraqi military, leading to dissatisfaction, The New York Times reported Tuesday.

U.S. officials have pointed to the success of the Awakening Councils as a key reason for the downswing in Iraqi violence in recent years. But with the planned withdrawal of U.S. troops, control of about 10,000 of the 94,000 Sunni militiamen has been turned over to the Shiite-led Iraqi government, resulting in complaints and protests, the newspaper said.

A group of fighters north of Baghdad said they are resigning, while Awakening Councils in the southern part of the city have met to oppose government efforts to integrate them, sources told the Times.

"Until now, promises are all we've gotten," Awakening Council leader Adil Mashhadani said to the Times. "When the government does not even pay them enough to stay alive, al-Qaida and armed groups are ready to pay them generously."