An influential Yemeni daily, The 26 September, said tens of millions of firearms are scattered across the nation of 20 million, a former British colony torn apart by turf wars and military clashes with Saudi Arabia since the 1960s.
By order of President Ali Abdullah Saleh, Interior Minister Rishad al-Alimi has ordered the confiscation of "heavy weapons," which largely means machine guns, explosives and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.
Pistols and assault rifles, such as the M16 or AK47, will be allowed, but only subject to registration and individual licenses to carry arms. Arms dealers will also be licensed and put under control.
Carrying guns in public has been prohibited in Yemen since 1992, but people have rarely complied.
