Senator criticises US over no show on bombs

A SENIOR US senator attending a major conference in Dublin aimed at securing an international ban on cluster munitions has criticised his government's failure to attend.

Senator Patrick Leahy (Democrat, Vermont) was speaking at a briefing on the progress of the negotiations.

He said he regretted his government's absence, but added: "I came here because I want people to know there are members of the US Senate and Congress who support this treaty."

The conference, which is being attended by 109 countries as well as by representatives of the United Nations, the International Red Cross and Human Rights Watch, entered its second week yesterday.

It is hoped that an international treaty will be agreed on Friday, to be adopted by participating states, which would ban the production, use, sale and stockpiling of cluster munitions.

Cluster munitions are launched by aircraft and scatter small explosive devices over large areas. Although they are meant to explode on impact with the ground, some can remain intact for decades until disturbed.

Senator Leahy has actively campaigned on behalf of civilian victims of war and in 1992 wrote the first piece of legislation in the world banning anti-personnel landmines.

While he could not speak on behalf of the US administration, Senator Leahy said cluster munitions posed an "unacceptable threat" to civilians.

The treaty to be signed on Friday would "influence the conduct of non-state parties" such as the US, he added.

Also present was Lord Alfred Dubs, who has lobbied the British government for stronger action on cluster munitions.

Britain is not attending, but Lord Dubs said that he looked forward to a "positive outcome" on Friday.

Steve Goose of Human Rights Watch, who is co-chairman of the Cluster Munitions Coalition, said he was pleased with the progress, made, but added there was strong concern that some countries who weren't present were trying to dilute the impact of the eventual treaty.

He applauded the definite inclusion of a commitment to victim assistance and munitions clearance.

"According to the text being finalised, states will have an obligation to provide medical care, rehabilitation and socio-economic and psychological support to cluster munitions victims," Mr Goose said.