A STEP FORWARD

Iraq's new prime minister Iyad Allawi said a deal has been struck to disband militias, AFX News reported.

"I am happy to announce today the successful completion of negotiations on the nationwide transition and reintegration of militias, and other armed forces, previously outside of state control," Allawi said in a statement.

"The vast majority of such forces in Iraq -- about 100,000 armed individuals -- will enter either civilian life or one of the state security services, such as the Iraqi armed forces, the Iraqi police service or the internal security services of the Kurdish regional government", he said.

And here is a bit more:

Nine political factions - most of them represented in Mr Allawi's interim cabinet - agreed to disband their associated militias by January 2005, when elections are due.

They include the Kurdish peshmerga militias and the Badr Brigade of the Supreme Council for the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, a Shia group.

"As of now, all armed forces outside of state control, as provided by this order, are illegal," the prime minister said.

"Those that have chosen violence and lawlessness over transition and reintegration will be dealt with harshly."

The BBC's Caroline Hawley in Baghdad said the announcement was designed to signal the new government's intention to put pressure on the militants.