Female suicide bombers vow to reconcile

BAGHDAD, Nov. 27 (UPI) -- Military authorities in Iraq say 18 female members of an al-Qaida cell have surrendered and pledged to quit training for suicide operations.

The young women were persuaded by their mullahs and fathers to surrender to coalition forces Wednesday and sign a reconciliation pledge, said a statement from U.S. Maj. Gen. Mark P. Hertling.

The women are to enter a formal reconciliation program in which they declare their support for the Iraqi government and pledge to cease attacks and provide weapons and information on terrorist cells, KUNA, the Kuwait news agency reported Thursday.

In his statement, Hertling praised the women for rejecting al-Qaida and "their barbaric methods to terrorize the populace."