US coalition: Iraq must give up weapons by mid-June

The US-led coalition officially ordered Iraqis today to disarm by mid-June, part of a high-profile effort to get weapons off the streets and return public security to cities under American occupation.

Anyone found with unauthorised weapons after June 14 will be detained and face criminal charges, US Central Command in Florida said, quoting a “national order” from the top civilian administrator, L. Paul Bremer of the Office of Reconstruction and Humanitarian Assistance.