Terrorists will be put to the sword - Iraqi leader

Iraqi interim President Ghazi al-Yawer threatened today to use a “very sharp sword” to fight insurgents and anyone else threatening the security of the country.

Al-Yawer spoke two weeks after the United States handed sovereignty over to an interim Iraqi government.

“Terrorism isn’t just killing and blowing up bombs, whoever threatens the ordinary life of the people is a terrorist,” al-Yawer told reporters.

“We have a very sharp sword ready for anyone who threatens the security of this country.”

Al-Yawer, who was meeting with Defence Minister Hazem Shaalan and National Guard Brigadier General Muther al-Rashardi, said the roughly 160,000 coalition forces led by the United States were required to stay to fight the insurgents, but violent groups should not use this as an excuse to continue attacks.

“Those who claim they are resisting the occupation, the occupation is over now,” he said. “We want to tell anyone who wants to threaten the security of this country: ‘Enough,’ I say, ‘Enough. Stop.”’

Security officials also sought to reassure Iraqis they were trying to restore order.

Al-Rashardi said the national guard had divided the capital, Baghdad, into eight sectors to make it easier to control.

“We have very big plans to follow this up,” Shaalan said. “We are ready to sacrifice ourselves for our people.”

Al-Yawer, a prominent Sunni whose position is largely ceremonial, said the government planned to announce an amnesty soon for some of the insurgents.

Al-Yawer appealed to insurgents to accept the amnesty and lay down their weapons.

“This is your last chance, otherwise there will be the sword,” he said.

Meanwhile, Iraq and France, which opposed the US-led war that toppled Saddam, restored diplomatic relations that were severed 13 years ago during the Gulf War. The countries plan to exchange ambassadors as soon as possible, the French Foreign Ministry said.

Violence continued across Iraq.

Gunmen killed Abd el-Oun Hassan, the head of the Musayyib office of the Supreme Council of the Islamic Revolution in Iraq, one of the largest Shiite parties, in a drive-by shooting south of the capital last night, police officials said today.

Insurgents also killed three US soldiers and an Iraqi civilian in separate attacks north of Baghdad yesterday.