EDITORIAL : THE AZZAMAN, IRAQ

Anti-U.S. rebel group lays down arms in Iraq’s Mosul

A rebel group attacking U.S. occupation troops in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul has agreed to lay down arms, a cabinet minister said.

The minister Amer al-Khuzai said the group had no record of attacking Iraqi civilians or troops as its rebels had focused their resistance against U.S. troops.

Khuzai who leads government efforts to bring the disparate armed groups to the negotiating table also said none of the group’s members will prosecuted.

“The group had 300 armed members and their operations are focused on resisting U.S. troops in the Province of Nineveh. They are not implicated in attacks against Iraqi civilians or Iraqi forces,” he said.

The group was known as ‘Saraya al-Jihad’ or “Jihad Battalions.”

“Saraya al-Jihad had agreed to lay down arms and join the reconciliation project,” Khuzai said.

He said the group’s leaders have stressed their faith “in national reconciliation and the political process currently underway in the country.

Mosul, which is the capital of Nineveh Province, has been the scene of violent attacks against U.S. troops and unrest since shortly after the 2003-U.S. invasion.

Khuzai said the government was to arrange a meeting including all the rebel groups that have decided to “lay down arms and become part of national reconciliation and dialogue.”

Five other groups are reported to have agreed to talks with the government and join the political process.

But Khuzai declined to reveal their names or identities.