Iraqi 'Guardians' Fight for Neighborhood

Nov. 21, 2007 — -- Iraqi Lt. Col. Ra'ad Ali Hassan represents new hope for Baghdad's Ghazaliyah neighborhood, where he patrols.

The men under Hassan's command are called Ghazaliyah Guardians. They were recruited by the United States to help secure and stabilize the community.

"GG -- the first G means Ghazaliyah, our area, and the second G means Guardian," Hassan said. "Most of my guys who are working are ex-army."

Many of "his guys" were Sunni insurgents who were fighting the United States just a few months ago.

In January, ABC News' Chris Cuomo and Bartley Price were hit by a roadside bomb while riding in a U.S. military convoy -- showing how violent Ghazaliyah could be.

Today, Ghazaliyah is a very different place.

The Guardians, along with U.S. forces, have chased out al Qaeda. Violent incidents have dropped from 52 a week in January to five a week now.

On the corner where the ABC crew was attacked, a bakery just reopened.

Now, Ghazaliyah is safe from the bombs, but an estimated 12,000 to 15,000 families who fled the area over the past few years are still afraid to return home.

For three months, the Guardians and the Ghazaliyah neighborhood council have debated how to get the first 20 families back, but it's not easy.

Take the example of Abu and Umm Rana. When they abandoned their home, three families fleeing sectarian violence in other neighborhoods moved in.

Now, to return one family, three other families must be evicted.

"I am afraid to go back unless those people in our house leave," said Umm Rana.