Sunday, October 15, 2006
ITN
Somalia has had no unified government for over 10 years, and has one of the most heavily-armed populations in the world.
The Islamists took control of the capital Mogadishu and most of south-central Somalia earlier in 2006.
Abdullahi Maalim Ali, their head of internal security, said the group will go door-to-door collecting weapons.
Ali said: "This is aimed at improving security. It will be implemented slowly and in phases."
The movement is now trying to persuade weapons dealers to accept compensation when their caches of missiles and heavy weapons are seized and registered.
If implemented, the plan would make the Islamists Somalia's sole possessors and regulators of weapons in the areas they control.
Ali, known locally as Abu Utayba, is also in charge of public executions.
Source: ITN, Oct. 15, 2006