Charity calls for cluster bomb ban

Cluster bombs on the wing of a US warplane

A campaign calling for a halt to the use of cluster bombs has been launched by a British charity.

Landmine Action is distributing 35,000 postcards featuring pictures of British-made cluster bombs, which it hopes will be sent on to politicians in a bid to stop their use.

A spokesman told BBC News Online that the bombs, similar to those being used in strikes against the Taleban, regularly fail to explode when they hit the ground, effectively turning them into landmines.

The charity is calling for no more to be dropped until international laws are created to force countries using cluster bombs to clear unexploded devices.

I've seen for myself what cluster bombs and unexploded ordnance can do to innocent people

Richard Wilson

Landmine Action believes around 15% of cluster bombs fail to explode on impact, posing an unacceptable risk to ordinary people.

Director Richard Lloyd said the need to stop their use in Afghanistan was urgent.

"It's already one of the most heavily mined countries in the world and what the people of Afghanistan really don't need is that devastating problem being made worse," he said.

Mr Lloyd also accused the US of "negligence" in making both cluster bombs and food packages in yellow.

'High failure rate'

"The lesson for kids in Afghanistan is that if something yellow falls out of the sky it's food."

Mr Lloyd said the bombs, which contain 200 smaller "bomblets" and can be used to target a larger area than conventional bombs or missiles, regularly miss their targets and kill innocent civilians.

Richard Wilson wants the bombs banned

The charity's message has won the backing of One Foot in the Grave actor Richard Wilson, who said: "I've seen for myself what cluster bombs and unexploded ordnance can do to innocent people."

Mr Wilson said he hoped as many people as possible would support the campaign, which is part of Landmine Action week.

'Risk to troops'

Concerns have also been raised by the aid agency Human Rights Watch, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the Princess of Wales Memorial Fund.

Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy condemned the use of cluster bombs in the air strikes on Afghanistan.

"They pose extra risks to civilians now. They pose extra risks to our troops later.

"The use of these weapons hands Bin Laden a useful propaganda weapon."