US patrols to weed out militias posing as Iraqi police

[sabra]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/international/story/0,,1869335,00.html

US patrols to weed out militias posing as Iraqi police
The Guardian

The police in Baghdad and multinational forces are cracking down on militias posing as police amid continuing accusations that members of the Iraqi police service are involved in kidnappings, torture and extra-judicial killings.

A register of police officers, their cars and weapons is being compiled in a pilot scheme in eastern Baghdad. Every officer has been photographed, fingerprinted, and tattoos or scars photographically recorded. The database has also checked the serial numbers of weapons assigned to individual officers against their official ID cards, along with the vehicles they are allowed to drive.

The scheme comes after claims that Shia militia members within the police, or associated with individual officers and stations, are responsible for death squad activity.

US patrols serving with the multinational forces in Baghdad have been instructed to target key districts where allegations of men in police uniforms being involved in extra-judicial killings have been strongest. Troops have been ordered to conduct spot checks on police officers manning check points and confiscate weapons not officially held.

[DeSwiss]

1. Hey!

Now there's an idea! :sarcasm: