BAGHDAD — As elections draw closer, there's a tug of war in Baghdad over the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU), a mostly Shiite coalition of militias.
Under a law passed in November but not implemented, the PMU was to become an official security body affiliated with the Iraqi armed forces. On one side of the issue, opponents are pulling hard to keep that from happening; the other side wants to expedite the process so PMU members can run for office and otherwise participate in politics.