Top Shiite cleric wants paramilitaries to be incorporated in Iraqi security bodies

Iraqi Shiite paramilitary groups who took part in the war on Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) should be incorporated into state security bodies, the nation’s top Shiite cleric said. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani delivered the message at a sermon in the holy city of Kerbala on Friday through one of his representatives, Reuters said. All weapons used in fighting the insurgents should be brought under the control of the Iraqi government, according to al-Sistani.