Iraq’s Ruling Coalition Warns Factions to Lay Down Weapons by Sept 30 Deadline

Iraq's State Administration Coalition, which boasts Shiite, Sunni and Kurdish forces, made a firmer stance against factions that continue to carry weapons outside the authority of the state. It stressed that any armed movement that takes place after the September 30 deadline for the factions to hand over their weapons will be dealt with according to the law, including the counter-terrorism law. The move marked a political and security escalation in one of Iraq’s thorniest issues since the 2003 American invasion and ouster of the former regime.