KAMPALA, Jan. 28 (Xinhua) -- A top commander of Uganda's rebel Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) has announced that he is tired of war and is negotiating his surrender with the Ugandan military.

    Capt. Deo Akiki, the spokesman of a joint regional military offensive against the rebel group in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) confirmed the rebel commander's announcement to Xinhua by telephone on Wednesday but requested not to name the rebel commander for fear that he could be killed.

    "Yes we have been in contact not only with him but with other commanders who are equally tired of the war," Capt. Akiki said.

    He said the Uganda People's Defense Force is making preparations to organize a safe passage for him.

    He said many other senior commanders of the rebel group holed up in Garamba, northeastern DR Congo, are also negotiating their surrender.

    Rebel leader Joseph Kony has in the past murdered his top commanders after accusing them of "working with the enemies." The most recent was the 2007 murder of his immediate deputy Vincent Otti and the 1999 slaying of Otti Lagony, also a top commander.

    The Ugandan military supported by DR Congo and southern Sudan launched an offensive dubbed 'Operation Lightening Thunder' on the rebel hideouts on Dec. 14.

    Akiki said over 100 rebel fighters have been killed and over 60abductees rescued from the elusive rebel group.

    He said the military is closing in on Kony and soon or later he will be captured or killed.

    The operation was launched after the rebel leader failed to sign the Final Peace Agreement aimed at ending an over two decade long rebellion in northern Uganda.