Al-Suneid gave the names of six of the seven organizations that approached the government on Monday: the 1920 Revolution Brigades, the Mohammed Army, Abtal al-Iraq (Heroes of Iraq), the 9th of April Group, al-Fatah Brigades and the Brigades of the General Command of the Armed Forces.
"I expect that those groups are the same ones that have made contacts with President Talabani and now they are widening the range of their contacts. Now they are more serious after the announcement of the [reconciliation] plan," al-Suneid told reporters.
Othman was unable to name the groups or say whether they were the same ones Talibani had contacted. But he said they also sought talks with US forces.
"They want negotiation with the Americans. The seven groups have real fears of the Iranian influence. They think that the Americans will eventually leave, but Iran is a neighbor and is not going anywhere," he said.
Many Arabs agree that Iran has undue influence in Iraq.
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