LONDON, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- A treaty banning the use of cluster bombs is one of the greatest contributions to eliminating indiscriminate weapons, the British government declared.
British Foreign Office Minister Alistair Burt welcomed a measure that placed the convention on cluster munitions into force in the United Kingdom.
"The convention, prohibiting the use, development, production, transfer and stockpiling of cluster munitions, is one of the most important disarmament treaties of recent years, addressing the humanitarian impact these indiscriminate weapons have on communities long after conflicts are resolved," he said in a statement.
A 304-page report released Monday by the Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor found that of the more than 16,500 casualties linked to cluster munitions globally, most were caused by munitions that didn't detonate properly during their initial deployment.
The organization credited London with taking the lead in destroying its stockpile of cluster munitions. Authorities with the group said the United States, Russia, China and Israel are the largest military users of cluster bombs.
The group said 108 countries have signed the convention banning cluster munitions.
