While the spread of assault rifles is fueling heated discourse in the United States, nations around the world are grappling with a similar debate involving weapons, particularly automatic rifles.

Combat weapons are flowing with relative ease worldwide, intensifying bloody power struggles between brutal regimes and opposition groups, and leaving innocent civilians dead.

This week, 193 nations will gather at the United Nations in New York City to negotiate a global treaty to limit their trade across international borders, a resolution supported by the United States.

Agreement on the Arms Trade Treaty is not a sure thing. In July 2012, representatives left the negotiation table without one.

An international rights group came out in support of the treaty Tuesday and issued a report depicting how the flow of arms in some countries escalates tensions into bloody violence.

Small arms abound

An AK-47 may look like a big gun to most people, but in conflict regions, they are referred to as "small arms." The term includes most hand-held weapons such as hand grenades and rocket-propelled grenade launchers.

They are easier to transport and use than a tank or artillery. They are also cheaper to buy, and they have spread rapidly, according to the United Nations, which refers to them as the "weapons of choice."

"The illicit circulation of small arms, light weapons and their ammunition destabilizes communities, and impacts security and development in all regions of the world," the U.N. said.

In many parts of the world, automatic assault rifles make their way at a dizzying pace into the hands of gangs, rebels, pirates and terrorists.

"They can all multiply their force through the use of unlawfully acquired firepower," the U.N. said in a statement.

Widespread proliferation of such handy weapons fuel armed conflict, crime and violations of human rights, according to U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

Ivory Coast's arms race

Weapons buildups by factions within countries can drive nations to war with themselves, Amnesty International said in its report on the bloody conflict in the African nation of the Ivory Coast in 2010-2011.

In populations divided by deep ethnic, religious or political tensions, easy access to arms can stoke distrust and paranoia, Amnesty said. This can put peace further out of reach and deepen divisions.

The country's military split in 2002, dividing the nation politically into two sides: north and south.

Then-president Laurent Gbagbo began stockpiling arms to raise his level of power over that of his opponents, Amnesty said. His purchases included small arms and heavier weaponry such as tanks, warplanes and drones.

Despite a voluntary moratorium on arms imports, the rights group said, Gbagbo bought weapons from various continents, including Asia and the Middle East. Chinese, Bulgarian and Ukrainian weapons flowed into the nation.

"Those arms transfers were highly irresponsible, as they took place in the context of a fragile cease-fire," Amnesty said.

The purchases fueled fear among Gbagbo's opposition, which also armed up.

The opposition had Polish, Chinese and Russian small arms, Amnesty said, escalating the weapons buildup of both sides.

In 2004, the U.N. attempted to stem the flow of weapons with an international embargo -- to no avail.

Escalation to armed conflict

In November 2010, Gbagbo lost in a presidential election, to rival Alassane Ouattara, but refused to cede power.

The government's weapons came out. Soldiers gunned down opposition protesters in the streets, and Ouattara and his loyalists started an armed campaign to oust Gbagbo.