Talabani move 'will lead to upsurge in inter-ethnic conflict'

Iraq's President Jalal Talabani is "playing a dangerous game" by planning to use Kurdish and Shiite militia forces to fight insurgents, a high-ranking Sunni political figure has warned.

Eyad Samari, assistant general secretary of the Iraqi Islamic Party (IIP), said the move would lead to an upsurge in inter-ethnic conflict.

"If the Peshmerga were sent into Arab areas, it would be seen as an invasion and the level of violence would rise," he told Gulf News in a telephone interview from Bagdhad.

"If Arabs see these troops coming into their areas, it will not be viewed as operations against terrorists, it will be seen as something different and unacceptable we must avoid that."

His comments come after President Talabani, a Kurd, proposed militia forces be used to "end the insurgency".

Talabani said "popular forces", including the-80,000-strong Kurdish Peshmerga, should be allowed to assist government security services in their fight against a powerful insurgency.

American officials have insisted militia groups are not the solution. But President Talabani said it was up to an independent Iraqi Government to make the decision.

Among Kurds in northern Iraq the proposal has strong support, as they blame Sunni Arabs for on-going violence.

Kurds say their forces could quickly deal with insurgents in Kirkuk and Mosul if given permission to do so.

But Samari insisted the President was wrong to even contemplate the step.

"It is a dangerous game, and the government should not play it," he said.

The IIP is the largest Sunni political organisation and has played a key role in establishing a united front to represent Sunni Arabs who largely boycotted the elections.

The Patriotic Forces Front, as it is known, has been involved in negotiations as Sunnis, Shiites and Kurds try to agree on the shape of Iraq's Government.

Samari said Kurdish soldiers could only be allowed to work as part of a fully integrated Iraqi Army.

He said: "If some former Peshmerga join the official army, and fall under the control of Iraq's new military commanders, that will be acceptable."

Sunnis are also deeply uneasy about the role of other unofficial armed groups, including the Badr Organisation.

This is the armed wing of SCIRI, the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq.

According to SCIRI it has ceased military activities, but Sunni groups accuse them of waging an underground armed struggle.