The Iraqi daily newspaper Babel said that health authorities had called for the ban, and had warned Iraqis against taking it.

Sunday's report said that under new regulations, Arabs and foreigners entering Iraq were not allowed to bring the drug with them.

It said that border guards had been urged to search people crossing into the country to prevent the Viagra being brought in.

'Poison'

The move is said to have been prompted by research abroad which showed the drug had a harmful effect on the health of users.

"(Iraqi) health sources have warned against taking and selling Viagra and its entry to the country", the newspaper said.

"The sources urged authorities in Iraq's border points to double-check in order to prevent the entry of such a poison to our country."

Last month, another newspaper, the weekly Al-Ittihad, reported that Iraq had developed its own version of Viagra in the form of an injection combined with an ointment.

An industry ministry official said the treatment would be used mostly for diabetics, and cost much less than Viagra, which is produced by the US firm Pfizer.