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Politics : The Iraq War And Beyond -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: BubbaFred who wrote (155)	6/15/2003 12:33:07 PM
From: BubbaFred	Respond to of 9018

U.S. Hunts for Weapons in Iraq After Amnesty Ends Sun Jun 15, 5:06 AM ET story.news.yahoo.com By Andrew Marshall BAGHDAD (Reuters) - U.S. forces hunted for heavy weapons Sunday in towns bristling with guns after a two-week arms amnesty that yielded scant response from Iraqis still anxious about postwar lawlessness. Reuters Photo AP Photo Slideshow: Iraq Nearly 100 Iraqis Killed By U.S. Troops (Reuters Video) Latest news: · Saddam's Daughter: Ex-Iraqi Leader Lives AP - 4 minutes ago · U.S. Asks Iraq Arms Experts to Surrender AP - 22 minutes ago · US unleashes new push to root out pro-Saddam loyalists AFP - 37 minutes ago Special Coverage "Those who carry weapons in public without a temporary permit will be detained, their weapons confiscated, and subject to imprisonment for up to one year and fines," the U.S. army said in a statement. "Coalition forces will aggressively enforce the weapons control policy." U.S. commanders have said they expect a surge in arrests for weapons offences in the next few days as the new policy comes into force. They hope this will succeed where the amnesty failed in persuading Iraqis to give up their guns voluntarily. The U.S. army said that during the amnesty period, Iraqis handed in 123 pistols, 76 semi-automatic rifles, 435 automatic rifles, 46 machineguns, 11 anti-aircraft weapons and 381 grenades and bombs -- a drop in Iraq (news - web sites)'s ocean of weaponry. Under the new rules, Iraqis may not keep anything more formidable than a Kalashnikov assault rifle in their houses and businesses, and may not carry unlicensed guns. Many Iraqis have complained that they dare not give up their guns until security is restored following the anarchy that ensued after Saddam Hussein (news - web sites)'s overthrow on April 9. Some political parties with private militias have also been reluctant to disarm. The United States said even family heirlooms and collectors' weapons fell under the new policy, and that Iraqis who voluntarily gave up their weapons would get no reward. "Iraqis must give up all heavy weapons without any expectation of reimbursement," it said. "It is not an economic issue but one about security." CRACKDOWN ON GUERRILLAS U.S. forces say they are determined to restore order in Iraq and crack down on guerrillas who have mounted a string of deadly ambushes on American troops in recent weeks. U.S. soldiers fought their bloodiest clashes last week since President Bush (news - web sites) declared major combat over. The U.S. military said some 70 people were killed in a U.S. raid on a "terrorist training camp" in western Iraq Thursday, and a U.S. army statement said 27 Iraqis who ambushed a tank patrol were killed Friday during Operation Peninsula Strike, a sweep of hostile territory north of Baghdad. But a military spokesman later declined to confirm the death toll from Friday's clashes, and some reports suggested it was lower. Locals around Balad said five civilians had been killed by U.S. forces after an attack on a convoy Thursday. In a statement, the U.S. military said that during last week's operation around Balad, some 400 Iraqis were detained and about 60 were still in custody. Four U.S. soldiers were wounded, along with two Iraqi "hostile civilians." Two former Iraqi generals turned themselves in during the raids, U.S. Central Command said. It also said Friday that U.S. forces had captured the commander of the former Iraqi air force, Hamid Raja Shalah al- Tikriti. He was number 17 on a U.S. list of 55 most-wanted Iraqis. Centcom did not say where he was apprehended.