Wednesday, February 21, 2007

Countries head to Norway for cluster bomb talks

Source: CBC News

"Certain types of weapons, such as landmines and cluster munitions, affect civilians particularly severely, both during and after armed conflicts," it said.

"Agricultural areas cannot be cultivated without risk to life and health, and refugees are unable to return to the homes from which they fled."

It said some countries, such as Laos and Vietnam, continue to have problems with cluster bombs more than 30 years after they were dropped in their territories.

The bombs have also killed or injured civilians in the Balkans, Iraq, Afghanistan and Lebanon.

According to the United Nations Development Programme, 23 developing countries are currently affected by cluster bombs.

Norway believes a ban on cluster bombs is possible given that the world was able to sign the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty, which bans the use of landmines. A total of 152 countries have ratified the treaty.


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