The British Defence Secretary has unveiled a five-point British action plan to help tackle the "modern scourge" of landmines.

George Robertson said that along with the doubling of resources for mine clearance announced recently, the plan would ensure the British Government played an "honourable" part in helping rid the world of millions of landmines.

At the heart of the new initiative is the offer to make army skills and technology available to organisations and individuals dealing with the clearance of mines.

He said the Ministry of Defence would:

• Set up a mine information and training centre to assist aid agencies, other Government departments and industry.

• Establish a senior military post to lead a co-ordination group on demining.

• Help examine the suitability of commercial equipment for humanitarian demining.

• Provide extra manpower to assist with the management of demining.

• Set up an interdepartmental working group to coordinate the demining work of Britain's Foreign Office, the International Department and the Ministry of Defence.

The Mine Information and Training Centre at Minley, near Camberley in Surrey, England, will open early next year.

The new centre will work closely with the Defence Research Agency and other military training establishments and schools.

It will collect and analyse information to develop future equipment and training as well as drills and procedures for mine clearance.

Mr Robertson said the new training centre could be named after Diana, Princess of Wales, in memory of her work for landmine victims.

Princess Diana during a trip to Angola

"Princess Diana's work had a huge impact on public opinion not just in Britain but around the world," he said.

"May be it has had some part to play in getting politicians to take notice of what they have always known about mines."

One of Princess Diana's final visits abroad was to Bosnia to see landmine victims.

"I am interested now in making sure her memory lives on not just in pictorial terms but the work she was doing," said Mr Robertson.
 

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