Craig wrote that the Citizens' Alliance movement "has completely counteracted the terror and influence of the boycott, the unlawful and un-American weapon of the unions."

But it qualified the announcement by saying the amnesty covered infringements of the law on peaceful demonstrations, the possession of unlawful weapons and army desertion.

They are in the county jail pending arraignments on charges of attempted murder, aggravated assault and possession of an unlawful weapon.

He suggested that unlawful weapons "could have been removed, could have been hidden, they could have been destroyed."

But he maintained that Mr. Hussein had been a threat and had been in breach of United Nations resolutions concerning unlawful weapons.

In New York, sap gloves are not specifically denominated as unlawful weapons by state law.

The handmade guns brought a charge of possession of unlawful weapons, which was later dropped.

Trooper Steven D. Waldie, who faces an added charge of possesion of an unlawful weapon, faces 50 years in prison.

Equally, individual officers had over reacted to the disturbances with the over zealous use of dogs, truncheons and a number of unlawful weapons.

Mr. Manzo was charged with aggravated assault and possession of an unlawful weapon.