Five arms markets were closed down since May 31 in Arbil and nearby areas, and arms merchants were forced to sign pledges they would cease their activities, he said, requesting anonymity.

The Kurdish regional parliament decided several months ago to ban residents of Iraqi Kurdistan from carrying arms without permits and prohibit the sale of weapons.

But implementation of the decision faced many obstacles, given the large number of armed men belonging to political parties, which had to legalize the weapons carried by their members.

The US-led administration in Iraq is collecting weapons ahead of new firearm controls that will come in force in mid-June, but has indicated it will exempt the two main Kurdish factions in northern Iraq -- the KDP and the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK).

WAR.WIRE