BAGHDAD, Aug. 12 (Xinhuanet) -- A joint military operations by UStroops and Iraqi security forces against Shiite Muslim militiamen in the central city of Najaf will continue, Defence Minister Hazemal-Shaalan said Thursday.

    "The operations are continuing in the city and will continueuntil the militia is forced to withdraw out of the city or theysurrender to Iraqi authorities and benefit from the amnesty lawwhich announced by the prime minister," al-Shaalan told reporters.On Saturday, Iraq's Interim Prime Minister Iyad Allawi said thathis government had issued a 30-day amnesty for those who hadcommitted minor crimes.

    Shaalan said 1,200 militiamen had been captured in Najaf, "manyof them non-Iraqis" who do not speak Arabic.

    The multinational forces were far from the revered Imam Alishrine in Najaf, he said, adding that the Iraqi forces managed toreach the shrine without the foreign forces. Enditem