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| UK will ban use of cluster bombs | UK will ban use of cluster bombs |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Britain is to take cluster bombs out of service, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said. | Britain is to take cluster bombs out of service, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said. |
| The announcement came shortly before diplomats from 109 countries reached an agreement on an international ban on the use of the controversial weapons. | |
| Mr Brown called it a "big step forward to make the world a safer place" and said he hoped more states would follow. | Mr Brown called it a "big step forward to make the world a safer place" and said he hoped more states would follow. |
| But some of the world's main producers and stockpilers - including the US, Russia and China - oppose the move. | But some of the world's main producers and stockpilers - including the US, Russia and China - oppose the move. |
| The final draft of the new convention banning cluster bombs went before delegates in Dublin on Wednesday afternoon and the deal was reached much earlier than expected. | |
| 'Bomblets' | 'Bomblets' |
| Cluster bombs have been used in countries including Cambodia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon. | Cluster bombs have been used in countries including Cambodia, Kosovo, Afghanistan and Lebanon. |
| They are made up of a big container which opens in mid-air, dropping hundreds of smaller individual bombs, or sub-munitions, across a wide area. | They are made up of a big container which opens in mid-air, dropping hundreds of smaller individual bombs, or sub-munitions, across a wide area. |
| These "bomblets" usually explode once they hit their target, but can fail to do so, leaving a deadly legacy as civilians return to their homes. See how a cluster bomb works | These "bomblets" usually explode once they hit their target, but can fail to do so, leaving a deadly legacy as civilians return to their homes. See how a cluster bomb works |
| Speaking at Downing Street earlier, Mr Brown said: "We have decided, after a great deal of discussion, that we can help break the log jam so that we can get international agreement that would ban cluster bombs. | |
| "We have decided we will take all our types of cluster bombs out of service. | "We have decided we will take all our types of cluster bombs out of service. |
| "I believe that is going to make a difference to the negotiations that are now taking place. I look forward to other countries following us in this action." Cluster munitions are weapons that never stop killing ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger UK seeks cluster exemption | "I believe that is going to make a difference to the negotiations that are now taking place. I look forward to other countries following us in this action." Cluster munitions are weapons that never stop killing ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger UK seeks cluster exemption |
| Simon Conway, from campaign group the Cluster Munition Coalition, said Mr Brown's decision to lead efforts to establish a ban was a "major act of statesmanship". | Simon Conway, from campaign group the Cluster Munition Coalition, said Mr Brown's decision to lead efforts to establish a ban was a "major act of statesmanship". |
| A spokesman for the British Foreign Office had said one of the sticking points was expected to be the issue of interoperability. | |
| This involves deciding how to deal with a situation where troops from a country that has signed the treaty are involved in coalition operations with forces from a country that has not. | This involves deciding how to deal with a situation where troops from a country that has signed the treaty are involved in coalition operations with forces from a country that has not. |
| Another point of contention was the degree of obligation that should be placed on signatories to clear unexploded sub-munitions. | |
| The BBC's Paul Adams said he understood the agreement would effectively outlaw the two cluster munitions currently held by UK forces, but would not prevent countries from developing future generations of weapons based on the concept of sub-munitions. | The BBC's Paul Adams said he understood the agreement would effectively outlaw the two cluster munitions currently held by UK forces, but would not prevent countries from developing future generations of weapons based on the concept of sub-munitions. |
| He said it appeared the UK was seeking a deal which other countries not present in Dublin, notably the US, might be persuaded to accept later. | He said it appeared the UK was seeking a deal which other countries not present in Dublin, notably the US, might be persuaded to accept later. |
| Using British soil | Using British soil |
| Another stumbling block could be the stockpile of cluster munitions the US military keeps at bases on British soil. | Another stumbling block could be the stockpile of cluster munitions the US military keeps at bases on British soil. |
| Our correspondent said the UK did not appear to be pushing for a ban on the practice, but John Duncan, the British representative in Dublin, said the draft treaty would prevent stockpiling after eight years. | Our correspondent said the UK did not appear to be pushing for a ban on the practice, but John Duncan, the British representative in Dublin, said the draft treaty would prevent stockpiling after eight years. |
| The UK would work with Washington to find a solution to the issue, he added. | The UK would work with Washington to find a solution to the issue, he added. |
| But Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said: "If he [Mr Brown] is serious about ending the scourge of these weapons, he must bring this abuse of the 'special relationship' to an end." | But Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Ed Davey said: "If he [Mr Brown] is serious about ending the scourge of these weapons, he must bring this abuse of the 'special relationship' to an end." |
| The ban has the support of more than 100 countries and many humanitarian organisations. | |
| Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said: "Cluster munitions are weapons that never stop killing." | Jakob Kellenberger, president of the International Committee of the Red Cross, said: "Cluster munitions are weapons that never stop killing." |
| But countries like the US, India, Pakistan and Israel claim such munitions can be highly useful on the battlefield and want to see the treaty watered down. | But countries like the US, India, Pakistan and Israel claim such munitions can be highly useful on the battlefield and want to see the treaty watered down. |
| HOW A CLUSTER BOMB WORKS 1. The cluster bomb, in this case a CBU-87, is dropped from a plane and can fly about nine miles before releasing its load of about 200 bomblets.2. The canister starts to spin and opens at an altitude between 1,000m and 100m, spraying the bomblets across a wide area.3. Each bomblet is the size of a soft drink can and contains hundreds of metal pieces. When it explodes, it can cause deadly injuries up to 25m away. | HOW A CLUSTER BOMB WORKS 1. The cluster bomb, in this case a CBU-87, is dropped from a plane and can fly about nine miles before releasing its load of about 200 bomblets.2. The canister starts to spin and opens at an altitude between 1,000m and 100m, spraying the bomblets across a wide area.3. Each bomblet is the size of a soft drink can and contains hundreds of metal pieces. When it explodes, it can cause deadly injuries up to 25m away. |
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