Sectarianism, crime tainting Iraq police: official

[sabra]

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/08/02/AR2006080200703.html

Sectarianism, crime tainting Iraq police: official

BAGHDAD (Reuters) - Almost a quarter of Iraq's national police are led by men suspected of crimes or sectarian violence and should be replaced, a senior coalition official said on Wednesday.

"There are 26 battalions. Maybe five or six have leaders who have led them in a way that was either criminal, or sectarian, or both," the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, told reporters at a briefing in Baghdad.

President George W. Bush has ordered more U.S. troops to Baghdad to quell savage sectarian violence that has continued during the first two months of Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki's government of national unity.

...

There are (security) forces in Baghdad who don't feel that they have the got the backing of their government to confront the (militias) ... It puts the soldier on the street in a pretty tricky spot," the official said.