Iraq must rein in paramilitary forces: rights group

The Iraqi government must assert control over paramilitary forces that have carried out abuses including enforced disappearances and destruction of property, and hold those responsible to account, Human Rights Watch said.

Baghdad should "take immediate steps to establish effective command and control over pro-government militias (and) disband militias that resist government control," the rights group said in a report.

It must also ensure that Iraqi forces involved in abuses "are fairly and appropriately disciplined or prosecuted," and provide compensation or alternative housing to people whose homes have been destroyed, HRW said.

The report details destruction of homes and detentions carried out in the Tikrit area, north of Baghdad, after the city was retaken from the Islamic State jihadist group, which overran large parts of Iraq last year.