Saudis told to surrender illegal arms

RIYADH, 19 August — The Interior Ministry yesterday appealed to citizens to surrender unlicensed firearms or risk punishment after an extended amnesty for registration has expired, a statement said.

"Those who voluntarily surrender their unlicensed arms before the end of the current (Hegira) year — end of February 2003 — will spare themselves the penalty," said the ministry statement.

It said that an amnesty period for citizens to obtain licenses to carry arms had expired last November , but many people still possessed weapons illegally. Those who fail to surrender their unlicensed weapons before the end of the period will be punished in accordance with the law, the statement said. (SPA)