Iraq's interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said Monday that the weapon-for-money program that started last week in Baghdad's Sadr City will be extended across the country.

"We will open this disarmament initiative to all the cities in Iraq," Allawi told members of the National Council, the country's interim parliament.

A week-long weapon-for-money program to disarm militiamen loyal to radical Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr in Sadr City was a success and has already been extended until Thursday, Allawi said.

"These steps are part of efforts to prepare for the elections," Allawi said. "The government is determined to get rid of weapons in the cities."

But he warned that the authorities will start a search campaign in Sadr City and will confiscate any weapons they find and punish the owners in accordance with the law.

(Xinhua News Agency October 19, 2004)