There is no place for weapons or armed groups outside Iraqi state control, premier-designate Haidar al-Abadi said Monday.

There is no place for weapons or armed groups outside Iraqi state control, premier-designate Haidar al-Abadi said Monday.

"I confirm that weapons must remain in the hand of the state -- there is no place for any armed group," Abadi told a news conference.

Abadi added that while he welcomes irregular forces fighting against militants who have overrun swathes of the country, they "must all be inside the framework of the state, and under the direction of the state, under control of the military and security forces."