The occurrence Iraqis themselves helping to clear al-Qaeda out of Iraq has become so common that it has given rise to a movement called "awakening councils" that serve as anti-Qaeda fighters working in coordination with the Multi-National Force (MNF) and the Iraqi government. Iraqi newspapers are now praising the security efforts of these groups:

Iraqi newspapers on Monday praised Iraqi awakening councils' efforts in maintaining the security situation in the country and backing Iraqi police and army personnel in their fight against armed groups.

The government-funded al-Sabah newspaper published an editorial by its editor-in-chief Fallah al-Mashaal in which he commended Baghdad's residents of al-Fadl, al-Mansour, al-Aamiriya and al-Ghazaliyya neighborhoods for their absolute solidarity with the anti-terrorism struggle in the Iraqi capital. "Terrorism, sectarian violence and armed gangs' activities have added to the suffering and sorrow of the Iraqi people throughout the past four years," the author wrote. "But Iraqi patriotism has managed to conquer them and remove all traces of destruction," he added.

The awakening councils are anti-Qaeda fighters working in coordination with the Multi-National Force (MNF) and the Iraqi government.

In his daily column in al-Adala newspaper, the mouthpiece of the Supreme Islamic Iraqi Council (SIIC), Ali Khaleef called for a strict observance of the rule of law in Iraqi society. Urging Iraqi authorities to deal firmly with outlaws and those who disturb social harmony and peace, Khaleef said, "Security can only be maintained with the help of residents and reconstruction efforts."

These groups are essentially neighborhood watch programs and have been named "Sahwa," by Iraqi citizens. "Sahwa" is an Arabic term that means "awakening."

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