U.S. vows to get weapons off Iraq streets
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U.S. soldiers raid a reputed gun market in Baghdad.
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BAGHDAD, Iraq (CNN) -- The U.S.-led coalition in Iraq soon will implement an arms control program aimed at reducing the number of weapons on the streets, U.S. Army Lt. Gen. David McKiernan said Friday.
McKiernan, who led the ground war in Iraq, said that the coalition will set up "designated locations" for Iraqis to hand over automatic and other heavy weapons. However, Iraqis will be allowed to keep small arms for home protection, he said.
"A detailed implementation plan is in the works," he said. "We're prepared to execute it soon after we receive the go-ahead."
McKiernan said the measures would prohibit concealed weapons and celebratory fire.
McKiernan said quiet and "normalcy" were increasingly becoming the status quo in Baghdad and the rest of Iraq.
"We're not finished, and we have quite a bit of work left to do," he said. "But every trend that we watch is improving."
