By NNN-KUNA,
Baghdad : Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Al-Maliki has issued a decree, in his capacity as commander of the armed forces, under which Amara militants who surrender to the authorities within a week from Wednesday are given a pardon, provided they have no blood on their hands.
Spokesman Mohammad Al-Askiri told reporters Wednesday that the pardon would be granted to militants and those “misled” to carry arms in Amara.
He also said that the Iraqi authorities have a list of 500 names. Some on this wanted list have already been arrested while others are still sought after they fled to the suburbs, rural areas and small villages.
The spokesman said that 28 militants had been arrested since the launch of the “Promise of Peace” operation and 21 caches of weapons and two plants for manufacturing explosives had been recovered.
As part of the operation, Iraqi forces are conducting raids and search operations in areas of Amara that had already been raided once, based on new tip-offs and intelligence.
The forces Tuesday ordered all buildings of state bodies be vacated and several Amara officials had been arrested, including a deputy governor and a Sadrist police official.
The Iraqi Defence Ministry said notices had been issued to occupants of all state-owned buildings in Amara, whether individuals or professional or political groups, to vacate the buildings within 72 hours, starting Tuesday.