Illegal groups disarm in Afghanistan

CHARIKAR, Afghanistan, July 2 (UPI) -- Six illegal armed groups surrendered their weapons to U.N.-supported authorities as part of a weapons-for-development program in Afghanistan.

The Afghanistan New Beginnings Program gives disarmed districts in Afghanistan priority for development projects through the U.N. Development Program.

More than 20 projects are in various stages of development throughout the country, with six completed since the program -- Disbandment of Illegal Armed Groups -- started in 2004.

More than 60 armed groups have voluntarily disarmed in June, bringing the total number, including the six in Parwan, to 626 since the start of the DIAG program, the U.N. Mission in Afghanistan reported

"In exchange for your AK-47s we will now build primary schools ... and in exchange for the rockets we will build high schools in the district," said Parwan provincial governor, Gen. Abdul Baseer Salangi.

The latest effort brings the total number of so-called peace districts in Parwan to 77.

Afghan Gen. Abdul Hafeez, who oversees the DIAG program for the Ministry of Defense, said disarmament operations in the region netted more than 8,000 weapons since it began.