BAGHDAD (AFP)
© 2003 AFP

A US soldier stands guard during a search for automatic weapons in a residential building in Baghdad. The coalition in Iraq expects to ban all heavy and automatic weapons and require permits for carrying other arms.

Iraqis ignored a demand to turn in their weapons as the US-led administration began a two-week countdown to the imposition of new firearm controls in a bid to stem post-war lawlessness.

None of the collection points in the capital visited by AFP reported any weapons had been handed in Sunday, despite three days of announcements on coalition radio.

US troops at the al-Mesbah police station said they had received about 20 inquiries from Iraqis wanting to know whether they would have to license their weapons once the new rules come into force on June 15.

But at the al-Ulwiya police station, soldiers admitted they had not had a single approach from Iraqis all day.

Under the new rules, all heavy weapons must be turned in but Iraqis will be allowed to retain pistols, shotguns and rifles up to 7.62 mm calibre for self-defence, provided they do not take them out of their homes and businesses.

That will let them keep the ubiquitous Kalashnikov or AK-47, the favoured weapon of most Iraqis.

Anyone wanting to carry arms on the street will need a special permit from the occupation administration, which has laid down detailed procedures for weapons surrenders to prevent coalition troops mistaking them for armed attacks.

Sergeant First Class Chris Rhett tried to put a brave face on the lack of interest from Iraqis.

"We won't get a big rush of weapons till close to the end," he said. "I would hope it will pick up before then.

"We are going to be putting more posters and leaflets out. I don't think we've got as many out as we need to."

Coalition officials had placed high hopes on the new weapons controls.

"We think it is going to be a successful policy because of the good Iraqi citizens who want to see law and order restored," a ground forces spokesman said Saturday.

But Iraqis questioned by AFP expressed astonishment at the policy, saying they would be unwilling to give up their treasured weapons despite the pending ban.

"Why should anyone want to just give away their weapon when they can sell it for good money?" said Arkan al-Zebaki, waving a 1950s vintage Webley and Scott pistol at Baghdad's open-air arms market which has maintained an underground existence despite repeated US raids.

"In any case why would any self-respecting Iraqi want to turn in their weapon to an American, particularly at a police station?"

Fellow arms dealer Abbas Fadhel agreed. "For us a weapon is a badge of honour," he said. "Even Saddam didn't dare to take away our weapons."

Fadhel has only pistols and ammunition on display for fear of another US raid or a robbery in the ultra-lawless looters' market.

But he said he has mortars for 75 dollars and rocket-propelled grenades for 100 dollars in his home just 10 minutes away.

Another arms dealer, Faris Mohammad, said it was too early to impose the weapons crackdown.

"I'm only selling weapons here because I lost my job when they abolished the defence ministry," he said.

"It's the same for most of us here, and it's also true of the hoodlums who create the fear on the streets that we all feed off.

"If the Americans could give people jobs, then the problem would right itself."

Even Abbas Hussein, who shows off two bullet wounds in his right foot, the legacy of a robbery on Friday evening in which he lost 25 dollars, said he had no intention of looking to the Americans for security.

"If I need protection, I'll go buy a gun," he said. "We can't expect foreigners to save us from other Iraqis."

For Ali Mahsen, there is only one way to control the gangs who operate out of squats in bombed-out buildings across the city. "Bring back Saddam's state security people," he said.

"Saddam never needed to take our guns away, he knew how to maintain law and order."