Mine expert dies in Lebanon blast

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A Lebanese mine clearance expert has been killed, and four people were injured, during operations to clear unexploded munitions in the country.

They were all working for the British Mine Advisory Group in villages in the Nabatiyah region, southern Lebanon.

It is estimated that Israel dropped more than a million cluster bombs during last year's war with Hezbollah, many of which have not detonated.

These mines have caused more than 30 deaths and 180 injuries.

Meanwhile, a Swedish worker was injured in a separate incident, according to the group.

Unexploded cluster bombs and other munitions used by Israeli forces are still scattered across many parts of southern Lebanon, says the BBC's Andrew North.

The Nabatiyah region is believed to be one of the worst affected by unexploded mines which renders farmland, homes and schools off limits until cleared.

Lebanon's Hezbollah movement has also been accused of using some cluster bombs against Israel during the fighting, a charge it has denied.

The United Nations, which is co-ordinating the clear up, believes only a fraction of the more than one million cluster bombs dropped by Israel have been removed so far.

Work has been hampered by what it says is Israel's refusal to provide details of where it dropped cluster bombs and how many.