Iraq offers cash for weapons to fight al-Qaeda

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Agencies

Posted online: Saturday , May 17, 2008 at 09:30:04
Updated: Saturday , May 17, 2008 at 09:30:04

Mosul (Iraq), May 16: Iraq on Saturday offered cash in exchange for weapons in the main northern city of Mosul, described by US commanders as al-Qaeda's last urban bastion in the country, on the third day of a crackdown against the insurgents.

Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki announced the 10-day amnesty for surrendering heavy and medium weaponry after he arrived in Mosul to launch the military crackdown codenamed "Mother of Two Springs" on Friday.

On Saturday he said the crackdown was going well.

"The process will achieve its objectives," Maliki said in a statement, which added that it was the duty of all citizens to cooperate to rid the region of ‘evil terrorists and remnants of the former regime’.

The premier said the amnesty would cover those who had not been involved in attacks on civilians.

Defence ministry spokesman Major General Mohammed al-Askari said the amnesty would apply across Nineveh province that borders Turkey and Syria.

"Any house in Mosul has the right to have only one small weapon -- a pistol or rifle," Askari said.

Officials said no weapons had been handed in the first six hours after the amnesty was declared. It was not clear what prices the authorities were offering for what weapons.

Maliki also met local Christian leaders in Mosul on Saturday and urged them to send their young men to join the security forces.

Mosul, Nineveh province's capital, has the highest concentration of Christians in mainly Muslim Iraq where Christians form less than three percent of the population.

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