Iraqi government to extend cash-for-weapons program

BAGHDAD, OCTOBER 19 (AGENCIES) -- Ayad Allawi, Iraq's interim prime minister announced plans yesterday to extend a cash-for-weapons program for Shiite fighters in Baghdad's Sadr City to cities countrywide in an attempt to disarm the country. The announcement came as fresh violence erupted in Baghdad and Mosul. Multiple car bombs over a two-day period claimed at least 12 lives, and a militant group, the Islamic Army in Iraq, claimed to have beheaded two Macedonian hostages.

The government launched the cash-for-guns program in Sadr City as part of a deal to end weeks of fighting in the Shiite district of Baghdad and has twice extended the deadline for fighters to hand in their weapons.

Yesterday, Allawi told the National Council, a government overseeing body, that the program is going so well he wants to extend it to the rest of Iraq.

"The government is determined to disarm cities and neighbourhoods because our forces are now ready to fight terrorists and there's no justification for people to keep weapons at home," Allawi said.

Iraqi officials hope Sunni Muslim leaders in the insurgent-torn city of Fallujah can be persuaded to negotiate a similar weapons buyback deal.

But Fallujah, the focal point of the Sunni rebellion, presents a tougher challenge. Hopes that peace talks could resume there quickly were dashed when the city's chief negotiator, Sheik Khaled al-Jumeili, ruled out any quick resumption of talks despite his release yesterday from U.S. custody.