PM says UK will ban cluster bombs

Wednesday, 28 May 2008 12:00 AM

The UK is to ban the use of cluster bombs, Gordon Brown said today at Downing Street.

The prime minister's announcement, which reverses years of military policy, comes as talks are underway in Dublin aimed at creating an international treaty for a ban on cluster munitions.

He said the decision followed "a great deal of discussion" and expressed his hope other countries would ban use of the bomb.

Earlier today a statement from Downing Street said the international community was "very close" to an agreement prohibiting the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of cluster munitions.

"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," Mr Brown said in comments reported by the Press Association.

"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."

The move is a major victory for arms-trade campaigners who have long called for a ban on the weapons, the 'bomblets' of which often land unexploded and turn into de-facto landmines.

It also signifies a significant victory for the Foreign Office and Department of International Development, who have long wanted the weapons banned, while the Ministry of Defence have fought to retain them.

The cluster munitions set to be banned are the Israeli designed M85 and the M73, which is attached to Apache helicopters.

The government is happy for the former to be banned overnight, but it wants a gradual phase-out of the M73.

The treaty would prohibit assistance with the use, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions, but the US, Israel, Russia, China, India and Pakistan are not taking part in the talks.

Commenting on Mr Brown's announcement, Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman Edward Davey said: "A total ban on cluster munitions is long overdue, but we need clarity on timetable and details before we can celebrate any government u-turn on this issue.

"The prime minister must also make clear whether he will continue to allow the US to store its own cluster munitions on British territory. If he is serious about ending the scourge of these weapons, he must bring this abuse of the 'special relationship' to an end."

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