Iraqi fighters surrender in Maysan

BAGHDAD, June 17 (UPI) -- Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki gave the Mehdi Army until Thursday to hand over their weapons in Maysan province amid reports some gunmen have surrendered.

The Iraqi news agency al-Sumaria reported this week that Maliki issued a decree demanding all militias in Iraq's eastern Maysan province disarm. The U.S. military dropped leaflets over the provincial capital, Amarah, during the weekend calling on the militias to surrender.

Iraqi Gen. Nassir al-Abadi with the Defense Ministry said Iraqi forces have the capital surrounded and maintain total control over the area, the Iranian Press TV said Tuesday.

His comments came amid reports that gunmen from various militias started surrendering to Iraqi troops Tuesday, the Alalam news network reported.

"Big groups have started surrendering themselves and their weapons," Interior Ministry spokesman Maj. Gen. Abdul-Karim Khalaf told reporters.

In contrast to earlier Iraqi-led offenses targeting Shiite militias in the southern port city of Basra, there has been little fighting reported in the latest operation in Maysan.