The  U.S.-run police academy in Iraq is losing recruits to militias, which offer better salaries, safety and lighter job responsibilities, the Times of London reports today.

The Iraqi police force is losing hundreds of recruits to the militias every month according to the Times, which interviewed one man who deserted the police force to join Al Mehdi Army, the militia run by the young radical cleric Muqtada al Sadr.

Iraq's militias outnumber the 120 thousand police forces, says the report.  The defection of hundreds of recruits from the Iraqi police will surely make the rebuilding efforts more difficult.

Check out the article: Times of London: "Militias Steal New Recruits with Better Pay and Perks"