By Xinhua
Baghdad : Iraqi government extended a deadline for Shiite militiamen in southern Basra to hand over their weapons from Saturday to April 8, the Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki said in a statement Friday.
The militia would receive a financial reward if they surrender.” All those who have heavy and intermediate weapons are to deliver them to security sites and they will be rewarded financially. This will start from March 28 to April 8,” said Maliki.
Iraqi government launched a crackdown against Shiite militia in the southern oil port of Basra earlier this week, and clashes between Shiite militants and the government security forces have spread to other cities including Nasiriyah and Mahmoudiya, south of Baghdad.
On Thursday, Maliki vowed to stamp out “criminals” while fierce clashes erupted, he was overseeing the offensive in the southern city of Basra and ordered the militants to surrender by Saturday, that showed his determination to fight to the end.