No amnesty for insurgents with "Iraqi blood" on their hands: Talabani

BAGHDAD - Iraqi President Jalal Talabani on Thursday called for national unity but ruled out any amnesty for insurgents with "Iraqi blood on their hands".
"We must all strive for national unity, for the setting up of a government of national union and to foster the noble values and principles of the Prophet Mohammed," he said in a televised address to mark the prophet's birthday.
"To call for national reconciliation does not mean giving in to the gangs loyal to (ousted president) Saddam Hussein which are terrorizing Iraqis and sabotaging oil and civilian installations," he said.
"Granting an amnesty to those who have been taken in does not mean giving it to those who have the blood of the Iraqi people on their hands," he added.
The United States has objected to a proposal made by Talabani when he was sworn in as president on April 7 that an amnesty be granted to all rebels who put down their weapons.

04/21/2005 07:59 GMT