"Mashadani was arrested under a warrant issued by the Iraqi government,"
a U.S. military statement said on March 29. "He is suspected of illegally
searching, detaining and extorting bribes in excess of $160,000 a month from
the citizens of Fadhel, improvised explosive device attacks that killed
Iraqi security forces, leading an IED cell, leading an indirect fire cell,
ties to Al Qaida in Iraq, and collusion with the terrorist network Jaysh Al
Islami. He was not detained because of his involvement with the Sons of
Iraq."
Over the last day, Interior Ministry forces, backed by U.S. soldiers,
have been raiding Al Sahwa facilities and confiscating weapons in Fadhel.
Officials said the ministry has threatened to disband Al Sahwa in Baghdad
unless order
was restored. So far, at least 10 Al Sahwa officers have been arrested.
"We have given the gunmen a deadline until Sunday [March 29], after that
security forces will carry out a raid and search of suspected individuals."
Iraqi military spokesman Maj. Gen. Qasim Atta said.
The U.S. military established Al Sahwa in 2006 in an effort to quell the
Al Qaida movement in Iraq. The Sunni force grew to about 100,000 until it
was formally taken over by the Baghdad government in October 2008. Since
then, about 30,000 Al Sahwa officers were absorbed into the Iraqi military
and police, with the others promised government jobs.
One Al Sawha commander, Ahmed Suleiman Al Jabouri, said his forces
have not been paid since January 2009. Al Jabouri warned that the Sunni
forces would walk off the job by the end of April.
Other Al Sahwa members said they have not received salaries since
December 2008. Officials said 10,000 Sunni officers were still being paid by
the U.S. military.
Over the last four months, Interior Ministry security forces have
arrested scores of Al Sahwa officers. Many of them were charged with
participating in attacks on Shi'ites in Baghdad in 2004 and 2005.
The U.S. military has been caught in the middle of the conflict. U.S.
officers have urged Al Sahwa and the Interior Ministry to resolve
their differences peacefully and employ the Sunnis as military and security
personnel.
"We remain thankful for the extraordinary work of the Sons of Iraq, and
the contributions they have made to the security of Iraq," U.S. military
spokesman Maj. Gen. David Perkins said. "The Sons of Iraq have provided a
great service to the people of Baghdad."
