The US military today gave Iraqis three weeks to hand in automatic and heavy weapons as part of a campaign to crackdown on lawlessness after the fall of Saddam Hussein.
"Starting June 1st, the people of Iraq will have a 14-day amnesty period to turn in unauthorised weapons to coalition forces at weapons control points here and throughout the country," the military said in a statement in Baghdad.
"After June 14th, individuals caught with unauthorised weapons will be detained and face criminal charges."
Many people have weapons in Iraq, where guns are an expression of masculinity.
After the toppling of Saddam on April 9th, looting of public and private institutions and homes swept the country and stolen weapons - from pistols and AK-47 assault rifles to anti-tank grenades - are sold on the streets at low prices.
Iraqis complain that with such anarchy and the abundance of weapons, the crime rate has reached unprecedented levels and the security situation is the worst in Iraq's modern history.
"No one in Iraq, unless authorised, may possess, conceal, hide or bury these weapons," the US military said. "No one can trade, sell, barter, give or exchange automatic or heavy weapons with or to any person who is not an authorised representative of coalition forces."
Small arms - including automatic rifles firing ammunition up to 7.62mm, semi-automatic rifles, shotguns and pistols - may be kept in homes and in a place of business, but may not be taken out in public, it said.
"Individuals will be instructed to turn in unauthorised weapons by placing the unloaded, disassembled weapon into a clear plastic bag provided by Coalition forces and walk slowly to the collection point. Collection points will be at designated locations like police stations and jointly manned by Iraqi and Coalition forces," it said.
It said weapons turned over to US-led forces would either be destroyed or set aside for use by the new Iraqi army or police forces.
The US civil administrator dissolved the defeated Iraqi armed forces yesterday, saying a new army would be formed.