Curb urged on arms trade loophole

Weapons often fall into the wrong hands

The government is being called on to make it harder for British brokers to sell arms to terrorist groups and "rogue" governments.

Opposition MPs and human rights groups want export legislation tightened to restrict British brokers operating outside the UK.

The Liberal Democrats are due to table an amendment on Tuesday to an Export Control Bill currently making its way through Parliament.

The government has announced emergency legislation to tackle the threat of terrorism.

But the working group of British human rights organisations is highlighting a loophole in proposed arms legislation.

Torture equipment

The group argues that the government's Export Control Bill will do nothing to prevent British arms brokers from transferring weapons to terrorist groups, provided the transaction is performed outside the UK.

Only in the case of trade in long-range missiles, torture equipment or sales to countries under embargo does the proposed legislation apply to activities outside the UK.

Paul Eavis, director of the organisation Saferworld, maintains that in the current situation it is more vital than ever to control illicit arms supplies.

Vince Cable, the Liberal Democrat spokesman on trade and industry, is tabling the amendment.

He says the government appears to have backtracked on a manifesto pledge to control arms traffickers wherever they are.