BAGHDAD - Saddam Hussein issued a decree Friday banning the production and trade of weapons of mass destruction, just hours before a key compliance report to the Security Council by chief UN arms experts, AFP reported.

"All individuals and companies in the private and public sector are banned from producing, manufacturing and importing nuclear, chemical and biological arms and substances," the Iraqi president said in the decree.

"All ministries have received the order to start this step and punish those who contravene it," said the decree, cited by an Information Ministry spokesman.