Blair's cluster bomb stance criticised

The anti-landmine campaign group backed by the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund today criticised Tony Blair’s refusal to call for an end to the use of cluster bombs in Afghanistan.

The British Prime Minister rejected Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy’s demand that the weapon was no longer used in air strikes.

Landmine Action said Mr Blair did not ‘‘fully comprehend’’ what cluster bombs did to civilians and said they were prone to miss their targets.

Before jetting off by Concorde to Washington for talks with President George Bush, Mr Blair told MPs said there was no ‘‘easy or pleasant way’’ to fight the conflict against al Qaida troops and Osama bin Laden.

When challenged by Mr Kennedy during Commons question time, the premier said it was important to take ‘‘whatever action we possibly can’’ to weaken Taliban forces.

‘‘If we want this conflict to be brought to an end quickly, we have to fight it vigorously,’’ Mr Blair insisted.

But Richard Lloyd, director of Landmine Action, said tonight: ‘‘The Prime Minister obviously doesn’t fully comprehend what these weapons do to civilians.

‘‘If he saw what cluster bombs have done to children in countries like Kosovo, Kuwait and Laos he might realise that continued use in Afghanistan will inevitably undermine international support for his campaign.

‘‘Labour had the foresight to understand this issue before they came to power, and have banned anti-personnel landmines.

‘‘Mr Blair must understand that cluster bombs are prone to missing the target, and the long-term dangers they pose to refugees and displaced people when they return to their villages.

‘‘Civilians are already being injured by unexploded cluster bomblets in Afghanistan.’’

In the Commons, Mr Kennedy said many people would share the sense of ‘‘unease’’ about the use of cluster bombs in the campaign.

‘‘Will you seek an assurance when you see the US President later today that no more of these will be deployed?’’ he demanded.

Mr Blair told him: ‘‘No, I won’t seek that assurance.

‘‘Cluster bombs have been used in five instances, one in respect of a terrorist training camp, the other four in respect of front line Taliban troops.

‘‘They are not what are called sub-munition cluster bombs. In other words the bombs that have been used explode on impact.

‘‘They are weapons that are legal and necessary in certain specific circumstances.’’

The Prime Minister added: ‘‘There is no easy or pleasant way of fighting a conflict like this.

‘‘The single thing that is most important now is that we take whatever action we possibly can to make sure that the Taliban troops are weakened and those that represent the forces opposed to them can move forward.’’

A report published by Landmine Action last year revealed that a 1997 official review of the Gulf War by the US Government found that cluster bombs dropped from medium-to-high altitudes are prone to be blown off target by wind, and are likely to cause ‘‘collateral damage’’.