By NNN-KUNA
Baghdad : The Iraqi security forces have said they will confiscate all medium and heavy arms from citizens, as they are planning to turn the al-Kadhemia area into a weapons-free zone.
The decision came after recent clashes that took place in the capital, Baghdad, which resulted in 448 people killed and injured in the last two weeks.
Residents of al-Kadhemia were given a three-day notice, active from Wednesday, to surrender their weapons, including light, medium and heavy arms. They will be given cash rewards in exchange for their weapons, the official spokesman for the law imposing security plan in Baghdad Major General Qassem Atta told a press conference Tuesday.
The confiscation would also include surrendering weapons for personal use, with the aim to disarm the area due to its “religious status”, Atta noted.
As for other areas within the capital’s vicinity, Atta said that the Operation’s Command would coordinate with the Chief-of-Staff’s bureau in order to collect the rest of the arms.
Clashes that took place between March 16 and April 7 resulted in the death of 82 gunmen, 36 civilians and 37 Iraqi soldiers, Atta noted, adding that 119 civilians and 174 soldiers were also injured in the operations.
Furthermore, 415 on the wanted list were arrested, in addition to 464 suspects besides the confiscation of large quantities of arms and explosives, Atta said.