IRAQ: Militants loyal to Moqtada al-Sadr have failed to hand over any substantial weapons caches on the first day of a weapons amnesty, leading to threats from the US military to launch fresh raids against the Shia cleric.
Yesterday was meant to see Mr al-Sadr's forces surrender their heavy weaponry in return for money from the Iraqi government and the end of months of clashes between militia and US forces in Sadr City, a Shia slum.
Instead only a trickle of arms were handed in at the start of a five-day weapons amnesty.
Iraqi police at the al-Jazar police station collected a handful of rocket-propelled grenades (RPGs), heavy machine guns and mortars.
Maj Saad Farhan, in charge of the station, said: "We believe we'll get more weapons in tomorrow, but a lot of people want to keep their guns."
However, US commanders said they intended to conduct raids by the end of the week if weapons had not been handed in.
"There has been no ceasefire agreement. If we hear that someone has weapons we will still go in and take them," said Lieut Col Gary Volesky, battalion commander in Sadr city.
In recent weeks US forces have pummelled the area with airstrikes and ground offensives to put pressure on the cleric to disband his militia. In return for handing in weapons, the Iraqi government has offered to release jailed militants and $500 million of reconstruction aid.
One reason for yesterday's low surrender of arms arose from confusion over how much money would be paid. Militia men from Mr al-Sadr's Mahdi army were reported to be asking for $500 dollars for an RPG, and $300 for an AK-47, rates much higher than those in illegal weapons markets.
Officials said they had received no money from the government to pay the militia men, and prices had yet to be agreed.
Another reason is Mr al-Sadr's lack of support, who has baffled US and Iraqi officials with contradictory statements.
Senior aides to Mr al-Sadr said yesterday they had received no orders to hand over weapons from the cleric, apparently countermanding a deal reached between local leaders in Sadr City and the Iraqi government.
Sheikh Abdul Hadi al-Dhuraji, head of Mr Sadr's forces in Baghdad, said: "Moqtada al-Sadr said anyone can keep his special weapons. He's not given an order to deliver them. It's up to people to give the weapons in."
Since Mr al-Sadr's forces were expelled from Najaf by US forces in August, the cleric has appeared undecided over whether to continue fighting or join the political process for next year's elections.
Some militia leader's in Sadr City are afraid that if they hand in their weapons, they will be unable to defend themselves against further US raids.
Mr Mohammed al-Musawi, head of a Mahdi army battalion, said, "We've still kept out weapons for the future. If the US army tries to attack Sadr City, we'll be ready."
But for ordinary residents of Sadr City, many of whom live without electricity, running water or adequate sewage, there is relief at the temporary truce.
Mr Halaf Sha-alam (42), who has three sons in the Mahdi army, said, "This is a very poor neighbourhood. We need help, not killing."
After heavy fighting in Falluja in April, insurgents there were offered a similar deal but only handed in a few unusable weapons. The town is now a no-go area for US troops.
In western Iraq, US marines clashed with scores of guerrillas near the town of Hit, 170 km west of Baghdad. Insurgents took up positions inside a mosque, the US military said, prompting troops to call in air support. Subsequent air strikes damaged the mosque and left it ablaze, the military said. The marines said the shrine had lost its privileged status as soon as insurgents took cover there.