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New drive against cluster bombs New drive against cluster bombs
(10 minutes later)
Norway is pushing for an international meeting on cluster bombs that it hopes will lead to a worldwide treaty restricting the use of the munitions.Norway is pushing for an international meeting on cluster bombs that it hopes will lead to a worldwide treaty restricting the use of the munitions.
The move follows the failure of a United Nations conference to agree any curbs on cluster weapons.The move follows the failure of a United Nations conference to agree any curbs on cluster weapons.
Oslo says it will now invite countries to work outside the UN system to agree a ban modelled on the Ottawa Convention restricting the use of landmines.Oslo says it will now invite countries to work outside the UN system to agree a ban modelled on the Ottawa Convention restricting the use of landmines.
Cluster bombs are blamed for killing and maiming thousands of civilians.Cluster bombs are blamed for killing and maiming thousands of civilians.
The small, orange-coloured munitions are packed into larger, conventional artillery shells which can be dropped from aircraft.The small, orange-coloured munitions are packed into larger, conventional artillery shells which can be dropped from aircraft.
The shell scatters hundreds of the smaller bomblets over a large area. Each shell scatters hundreds of the smaller bomblets over a large area.
According to activists, the bomblets frequently fail to detonate until they are disturbed by people on the ground - effectively making them as lethal as landmines.According to activists, the bomblets frequently fail to detonate until they are disturbed by people on the ground - effectively making them as lethal as landmines.
A recent report by the Handicap International charity said civilians accounted for 98% of cluster-bomb casualties.A recent report by the Handicap International charity said civilians accounted for 98% of cluster-bomb casualties.
The report estimated some 100,000 civilians had been struck by cluster bombs, many of them children.The report estimated some 100,000 civilians had been struck by cluster bombs, many of them children.
Ottawa ConventionOttawa Convention
Norway says it plans to ask countries to meet in Oslo to begin talks on banning cluster bombs.Norway says it plans to ask countries to meet in Oslo to begin talks on banning cluster bombs.
Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told the Associated Press news agency he will "invite countries that have shown an interest and a will to take urgent action to address the cluster munition problem".Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told the Associated Press news agency he will "invite countries that have shown an interest and a will to take urgent action to address the cluster munition problem".
UN bodies, the Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations would also be invited he said.UN bodies, the Red Cross and other humanitarian organisations would also be invited he said.
No date for the talks was given.No date for the talks was given.
A similar initiative led to the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, which has now been signed by 154 countries.A similar initiative led to the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines, which has now been signed by 154 countries.
'Inadequate proposal''Inadequate proposal'
Calls for curbs on using cluster bombs have been growing since Israel's month-long conflict with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon this summer.Calls for curbs on using cluster bombs have been growing since Israel's month-long conflict with Hezbollah guerrillas in Lebanon this summer.
De-mining agencies say the conflict has left behind some one million unexploded cluster bombs in Lebanon.De-mining agencies say the conflict has left behind some one million unexploded cluster bombs in Lebanon.
But despite intense lobbying by the Red Cross and by some European countries the Geneva conference failed to agree a ban on the weapons. But despite intense lobbying by the Red Cross and by some European countries, a UN conference in Geneva last week failed to agree a ban on the weapons.
Countries such as the United States and Russia, which have big stockpiles of cluster munitions, tried hard to keep the issue off the agenda completely.Countries such as the United States and Russia, which have big stockpiles of cluster munitions, tried hard to keep the issue off the agenda completely.
A proposal put forward by Britain to talk about cluster munitions in the future was finally adopted but was dismissed by humanitarian organisations as inadequate.A proposal put forward by Britain to talk about cluster munitions in the future was finally adopted but was dismissed by humanitarian organisations as inadequate.