Fallujah rebels 'have days to give up arms'

GUERRILLAS and residents in Fallujah have "days, not weeks" to turn in heavy weapons, the top US Marine commander in Iraq said yesterday, warning an American push to take the city could be costly for both sides.

The stark warning by Lieutenant General James Conway came two days after city leaders called on insurgents to hand over their heavy weapons in return for a US pledge to hold back on plans to storm the city and allow the return of families that fled the city.

The few arms that have been surrendered so far were "junk", Marine commanders said including "" inert grenades, 100 rusted mortar shells, dud rockets and unusable guns.