Nine of Iraq 's major militias have agreed to disband, the country's interim prime minister announced today. However. the deal does not cover radical Shia cleric Moqtada al-Sadr's militia.
"I am happy to announce today the successful completion of negotiations on the nationwide transition and reintegration of militias and other armed forces previously outside of state control," Iyad Allawi said in a statement.
The deal does not cover Sadr's Mehdi Army, which launched an uprising against occupying troops two months ago. Last week US forces agreed a truce with the militia after weeks of skirmishes.
Allawi said nine major militias had agreed the plan, including Kurdish peshmerga militias and the Badr Brigade of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq , a Shia party. Those that had not were outlawed.
"All of these parties have accepted detailed plans, timetables and terms for the transition and reintegration of the armed groups under their authority, or have already disbanded their militias," Allawi said.
"As of now, all armed forces outside of state control, as provided by this order, are illegal. Those that have chosen violence and lawlessness over transition and reintegration will be dealt with harshly."
Iraq 's US-led administration has long been pressing for factional militias to disband, but many groups, particularly Kurdish and Shi'ite parties, wanted to keep their armed wings.
"As a result of this achievement, the vast majority of such forces in Iraq - about 100,000 armed individuals - will enter either civilian life or one of the state security services," Allawi said.
Iraq 's interim constitution, agreed in March, outlawed militias. Allawi said following today's agreement the US-led administration would issue an order activating the ban on militias and private armed groups.