partners are pressuring the baghdad government to reduce the number of fighters in the popular mobilization forces from one off 3,000 to 70,000. and they want the number of the sunni fighters to increase from 15,000 to 50,000. this has caused tensions between the leadership of the popular mobilization forces and the government. >> reporter: the u.s. has been training and swimming sunni fight, he new weapon have his allied and local officials allied to the iraqi government are making clear these men will become part i've state militari' rut us. some shia militias say this is tantamount to create a separate arm on sectarian lines. >> we are working for them to be -- they will be subject today all military regulation. >> reporter: but on the ground the government and allied forces have made little progress.