The US is still against a ban and did not participate in the conference, joining China and Russia who were also recently highlighted by Amnesty International as human rights violators, though on issues outside of cluster bombs. Fine company we're keeping these days in the world community. Good for the UK though for doing what's right.
Britain will lead the way in scrapping all its cluster bombs, the Prime Minister announced yesterday before diplomats from more than 100 countries later unanimously passed a treaty to ban the use of the bombs around the world.
Overruling the objections of defence chiefs, Gordon Brown said the UK would abandon its entire stockpile as a key step in the long-running campaign against the weapons.
Later last night, delegates in Dublin also agreed to destroy any stockpiles of the weapons within the next eight years. The agreement does not include the US, China or Russia. But it was hailed as a triumph by campaigners last night. Simon Conway, co-chair of Cluster Munitions Coalition, said: "It's a combination of years of work and we are extremely happy. The bombs have been criticised for killing and maiming civilians in war zones all over the world.
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