LEBANON'S CLUSTER BOMB VICTIMS MUST BE REMEMBERED

3.19.01pm BST (GMT +0100) Thu 30th Aug 2007

Tomorrow was the date set for the expiry of the mandate for the United Nations force in Southern Lebanon, but with its work not yet done the UN recently voted to extend it for another year.

Israeli forces are now long gone from the war zone of last summer, but their legacy lives on. Every few days, Lebanese civilians are killed or maimed by the unexploded cluster bombs left behind.

MEP Liz Lynne is a Member of the European Parliament's Subcommittee on Human Rights and long-time campaigner against cluster bombs.

Speaking today from Brussels, she said:

"In Southern Lebanon many people cannot work their land, go to school or in some cases even return home yet because their areas still need to be cleared. It is an affront to local civilian's human rights that this was allowed to happen."

"The declaration by 46 countries in Oslo in February to work towards a ban was a step forward, but not yet enough. We need to keep up momentum to ensure that a situation such as the ticking time-bomb of munitions in Southern Lebanon is not allowed to happen anywhere else."

"We must use this opportunity to repeat our calls for all countries to cease the manufacture, stockpile and use of cluster munitions. I particularly call on the UK Government to make a commitment to stop the use of cluster munitions by the British Army in all circumstances; this includes the use of so called smart munitions fitted with a self destruct mechanism. We know from the Lebanon, where some of those were used, that in many cases they still leave a legacy of terror for years to come."

ENDS