Row develops over Iraqi tribal councils

BAQUBA, Iraq, Nov. 24 (UPI) -- Officials in the eastern Iraqi province of Diyala Monday called the tribal Awakening councils a propaganda tool for Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki.

Maliki is looking to establish a group of Support Councils in parts of the country to shore up his influence ahead of provincial elections in January. Maliki has been backing the religiously mixed Support Councils and their counterpart, the Sunni Awakening Councils, to shore up influence in Kurdish and Shiite areas of the country.

The three-member Iraqi presidential council last week called on the prime minister to put a halt to the activity of the tribal groups while lawmakers examine their legality. Iraqi President Jalal Talabani, a Kurd, and Kurdish political parties have expressed concern that Maliki was using the councils to consolidate his power.

Meanwhile, officials in Diyala province said establishing the Awakening councils, or Sahwa, in the area was not needed, Voices of Iraq reported.

The Sons of Iraq paramilitary forces are affiliated with the Awakening, though Baghdad ruled during the summer that only government forces could carry weapons legally.

"There is no need to form Sahwa councils, as the government's exclusive possession of weapons would be the only option in order to restore the rule of law, security and stability," said Ibrahim Hassan al-Bajlan, an official in the Diyala provincial government.