Iraq extends weapons amnesty
BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- Iraq's interim government says it will extend the weapons handover program for Sadr City, a Baghdad slum rife with anti-U.S. sentiments, and will soon extend the arms amnesty program nationwide.
Interim national security adviser Kasim Dawood extended the Sadr City program -- which was scheduled to expire last Friday -- until the end of this week, an aide in the Ministry of State's Office for Security Affairs said Monday.
He also said a week-long, nationwide weapons handover program would kick off on Saturday under the same conditions that were applied in Sadr City.
Turnout was strong when the program opened last week. Several Iraqis, including some members of the Mehdi militia, turned over their weapons in exchange for coupons that can later be redeemed for cash from the Iraqi government.
On Sunday, Iraqi interim Prime Minister Ayad Allawi visited Sadr City -- becoming the first Iraqi leader ever to do so, according to Allawi aides -- and went to the stadium where the weapons and ordnance turned in were being stored.
His visit to that site was delayed, however, when a mortar round hit the stadium about 15 minutes before his scheduled arrival.
"I am thrilled and pleased that things are moving in the right direction and arms are being surrendered to the Iraqi government," the prime minister said after meeting with local tribal and religious leaders, as well as with representatives of renegade Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr.
"I call upon all Iraqi people throughout Iraq, whether in Basra, Nasiriya, Falluja, Ramadi or Mosul to surrender their weapons and to respect the rule of law and to be part of the political process."
Observers said last week the surrendering of rocket-propelled grenade launchers, mortars and machine guns was a sign an agreement between al-Sadr and the Iraqi government was being implemented as announced.
Three police stations in Sadr City were ready to receive the weapons, another police official said.
The weapons surrender is intended to allow Iraqi security forces, backed by U.S. forces, to take control of the area where attacks on U.S. and Iraqi soldiers have been going on for weeks.
The sprawling slum is home to 2 million people, nearly 10 percent of Iraq's population.
In return for the weapons handover, the interim government said, there will be amnesty arrangements for people who "have not been involved in criminality." Also, al-Sadr himself and his allies would be permitted to get involved in the country's nascent political culture.
Iraq's interim government and al-Sadr followers announced the deal Saturday.
Dawood called the plan a "breakthrough" deal and a "big achievement" toward consolidating national unity in Iraq.
Iraqi companies will be allowed to resume normal operations within Sadr City, but foreign companies will not be allowed in at this time, Sheikh Ali Smeisem said.
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Associated Press contributed to this report.
