Destruction of stockpiles urged at Beirut cluster bombs convention

Sep 13, 2011, 21:29 GMT

Beirut - All governments must destroy their stockpiles of cluster munitions, clear contaminated land and assist survivors, said participants Tuesday at an international conference in Beirut aimed at eradicating the weapons.

An international convention on cluster munitions has been in force for more than a year, and has been joined by more than 100 countries.

Representatives from 123 governments have registered for the conference in Lebanon, which will last until Friday, organizers said.

'This meeting is an important milestone for this ground-breaking treaty,' said Steve Goose, the chairman of the Cluster Munition Coalition.

'Governments need to demonstrate that they are acting with the urgency and comprehensiveness that they have promised in eliminating cluster munitions and addressing the effects these inhumane weapons have on civilians all over the world,' he said.

According to Goose, Lebanon was chosen to host the convention because hundreds of thousands of unexploded munitions remain in the country after being dropped by Israel during the 2006 war. They have killed or wounded at least 366 people since then, he said.

'Iraq and Lebanon are the worst-affected countries in the Middle East/North Africa region, but Libya is the most recently contaminated country, following use of cluster munitions by forces loyal to Moamer Gaddafi since the uprising took place in Libya in late January,' Goose said.

Only Lebanon and Tunisia have ratified the convention in the region.

'The meeting in Beirut should make it clear that most of the world has thoroughly rejected cluster munitions and only those who don't care about international standards of behaviour will contemplate using these inhumane weapons,' said Goose.