MOSCOW, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Forty-nine members of illegal armed groups surrendered on Monday in Chechnya, Russian news agencies reported on Tuesday.

    The militants surrendered to a police regiment in Gudermes, Chechnya's second-largest city, on condition of personal safety guarantees from Chechen Prime Minister Ramzan Kadyrov.

    "In all, 49 men have voluntarily surrendered, among them the 'emirs' of various districts," Kadyrov was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying after meeting the militants.

    The militants surrendered 20 submachine-guns, eight shoulder-fired grenade launchers, two machine-guns and an ample supply of ammunition.

    A surrendered field commander said he would persuade other members of armed groups, who did not kill or kidnap people, or did not cover themselves with blood, to surrender.

    "There is a sufficient number of such people. Most of them have come out of the woods, but are in forced hiding. We must make maximum effort to legalize these people," Ali Suleimenov said. Enditem