Iraqi security forces detained 1,068 suspected insurgents in a major offensive targeting al-Qaida militants in Mosul in northern Iraq, a military source said on Saturday.
Iraqi army soldiers fire their weapons during a gun-battle with Shi'ite militiamen in the Shi'ite dominated Baghdad's neighbourhood of Shulla May 13, 2008.
"A total of 1,068 suspected insurgents have been arrested so far," with large amount of weapons and ammunition confiscated, said Lieut. Gen. Riyadh Jalal Tawfiq, head of the military operation.
"This operation will last until we finish off all the remaining terrorists and outlaws," Tawfiq vowed in a statement. Iraqi security forces launched last Saturday an offensive dubbed "The Operation Lion's Roar" against al-Qaida and other insurgent groups.
Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki returned to Baghdad on Saturday after spending three days in Nineveh province to oversee the offensive.
On Friday, Maliki offered members of armed groups in Mosul an amnesty in exchange for weapons. He said the gunmen have only ten days to show up and hand over their heavy and medium weapons. Besides amnesty, the trade-off also includes an unspecified amount of money.
Maliki also ordered to change the name of the offensive to "The Mother of the Two Springs."
Iraqi army soldiers build the check-point at the main road, leading to the Shiite dominated Baghdad's neighbourhood of Shulla, May 16, 2008.
