[Aljazeera] The Iraqi parliament has passed a bill recognising the Shia militia fighters, the Popular Mobilisation Forces, as a government entity operating alongside the military.
The bill passed on Saturday will see the establishment of the Popular Mobilisation Forces Commission, which critics said could only widen sectarian divisions in the war-torn country.
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi welcomed the legislation, which was supported by 208 of the parliament's 327 members, saying the newly-formed force "will represent and defend all Iraqis wherever they are." |