Al Maliki has to act tough with militias

It is time that Iraq seizes the opportunity to bring about a level of normalcy in the country. The government holds the responsibility of making any peace talks work as well as facilitating a process of reconciliation that brings about stability to the country.

The Iraqi government recently reached a peace deal with radical Shiite cleric Moqtada Al Sadr which would help end the weeks-long fighting in Baghdad. Accordingly, Al Sadr's Mahdi Army militia would put down their weapons in return for a stop to the government's so-called "random" raids and roadblocks in areas dominated by the cleric's group.

But the agreement has faced some obstacles as disputes among the various groups mounted yet again. "The government has the right to raid and search any place that is suspected to contain heavy and medium weapons," stated Ali Dabbagh, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Nouri Al Maliki.

Yet Al Maliki has to take more vigorous and serious action to ensure that the fighting stops.

The fierce battles between the Shiite militants and the government's army have led to the killing of hundreds in just a few weeks.

If the prime minister is not capable of forwarding the government's agenda forcefully, instability will continue endlessly. Al Maliki has no choice, in fact, except to take a tough stance when dealing with factions taking up arms against the state.

But the issue of the fighting should be perceived within the context of what it does to the lives of civilians. The ongoing fighting is not only leading to an increasing number of deaths, it is also causing other problems such as shortages of food and water, as well as medical services.

At the end of the day, people seek better living conditions, which is exactly what Al Maliki is responsible for providing.