Sep 29th, 2008 · The Sunni group, Sons of Iraq, has been vital in cutting down violence in Iraq. The organization was originally supported and paid for by the U.S. military. The group will soon come under Iraqi government control. But recently the leaders of the group say a campaign of harassment has begun against them.
Sep 24th, 2008 · After months of wrangling, Iraq's Parliament approved a new provincial election law, which clears the way for a vote probably before the end of the year. It will likely lead to more power for Iraq's Sunnis, who largely boycotted the last ballot.
Sep 19th, 2008 · The Iraqi government will be taking over security of Baghdad on Oct. 1 and will also take control of a large group of Sunni paramilitary forces currently securing much of the country. The militia leaders say they were not consulted and that they're not sure the transition will be smooth.
Sep 12th, 2008 · After strong pressure from the U.S. military, the Iraqi government has agreed to employ the so-called Awakening Councils. These are largely Sunni paramilitary groups who turned against al-Qaida and allied themselves with U.S. forces. But the Awakening membership mistrusts the Iraqi government.
Sep 4th, 2008 · The Sunni paramilitary group Sons of Iraq has been a centerpiece of the American strategy in Iraq. But the group, which receives funding and support from the U.S., is now being targeted by Iraq's Shiite-led government.
Jul 5th, 2008 · A group of Sunni and Shiite leaders will meet in Iraq with Martin McGuinne, the deputy First Minister of Northern Ireland and former IRA leader, and Cyril Ramaphosa, the South African negotiator who helped end apartheid. They have been meeting privately with Iraq's politicians for two years to try and hammer out an agreement on reconciliation. On Saturday, they'll announce the results — a new accord among Iraq's feuding political factions, reports Lourdes Garcia-Navarro.
Jun 27th, 2008 · Iraq's Salahuddin province has been known for years as a violent stronghold of Sunni insurgents, including al-Qaida. But lately it has been relatively quiet. U.S. military units there say that's because former rebel fighters are turning themselves in by the hundreds — including some who had been the most virulently anti-American leaders.
Jun 17th, 2008 · British journalist Patrick Cockburn talks about the expansion of a U.S. military program to hire Iraqi militiamen. The practice began in Sunni areas earlier this year, and now Shiites in Sadr City are joining the so-called "Awakening Councils."