"They can surrender and become part of the future free Iraq, or they can fight and die," Pace said Sunday on ABC television.

Previous such overtures by UN military officials have had no takers, Pace said.

"As of yet, we have not had a senior official in these divisions and corps surrender," he said.

Even in a debilitated condition, he said that the Iraqi military still poses a threat.

"They are extremely weakened, but that does not mean they're finished. They will not be finished until either they are completely destroyed, which we are capable of doing, or that they surrender," said Pace.

SPACE.WIRE