Talabani Declares Amnesty For The Militant Islamists 
October 26, 2001 

ERBIL, Kurdistan, (GULAN)— The militant Muslim rebels of Jund Al Islam may return home
under a general amnesty granted by Patriotic Union of Kurdistan’s leader Jalal Talabani. 

In a written statement published in the daily Kurdistani New Thursday, Mr. Talabani urges the rebels to
abandon Jund Al Islam and return to their homes in Kurdistan. 

The statement, which is issued by the Talabani secretariat, says that the general amnesty embraces both the
rebels and the leaders of Jund Al Islam, with the exception of the assassins of KDP member F. Hariri and
those who participated in the massacre of the Kheli Hama village. 

Fierce fighting broke out between PUK forces and Jund Al Islam at the end of September this year, in which
more than 45 people were killed and many more wounded. PUK accused this fraction of starting the fighting
by attacking their military positions in Halabja area, Southern Kurdistan. Most political parties, including
Massoud Barzani’s KDP, condemned the rebels and offered Talabani their support 
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