Secret American contacts with the gunmen

The national security advisor of the interim Iraqi government Muwafaq al-Rubei, in an interview with the Washington Times criticized what he called the secret contacts between the Americans and the armed groups in Iraq.

Al-Rubei said that the contacts took place without the knowledge of the interim government. He added "I Think that the Americans are making a grave mistake by pursuing such an relaxed policy." He, in this regard, demanded paving the way before the Iraqi government to consider this matter, considering that any agreement with the gunmen will complicate the security situation in the country.

For his part, the spokesman for the US defense department Brian Whiteman said that the coalition is making "contacts with leaders of effective groups in Iraq in order to eliminate people's fears and encourage them to participate in the political process."