Benn seeks cluster bomb ban
The international development secretary has called for the British and US military to stop using cluster bombs, according to a leaked letter.
Deputy prime minister hopeful Hilary Benn wrote last week to cabinet colleagues, defence secretary Des Browne and foreign secretary Margaret Beckett. He described the controversial weapon as “essentially equivalent to landmines”, which were outlawed under seven years ago.
But the government is likely to be angered by the letter, leaked to the Sunday Times, with the Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) official policy classifying the bombs as “legitimate”.
Cluster bombs, which can either be dropped by planes or launched as artillery, are scattered over a large area but frequently fail to detonate, resulting in a serious hazard for civilians once conflicts have resolved.
“The high failure rate of many cluster munitions, and the failure of many militaries around the world to use these munitions in a targeted way means that cluster munitions have a very serious humanitarian impact, pushing at the boundaries of international humanitarian law,” Mr Benn wrote.
“It is difficult then to see how we can hold so prominent a position against land mines, yet somehow continue to advocate that use of cluster munitions is acceptable.”
Cluster bombs have been used since the beginning of the Iraq war and were employed by the Israeli army in Lebanon during the conflict with Hizbullah this summer.
Mr Benn last week announced his intention to replace John Prescott as deputy prime minister, with Northern Ireland secretary Peter Hain, minister of state for constitutional affairs Harriet Harman and backbencher Jon Cruddas also in the running.
