Allied use of cluster bombs illegal, minister admits

[Mastro Lingo]

Independent:

The Government admitted during the war on Iraq that the use of cluster
bombs against civilian targets would "not be legal", a letter obtained
by The Independent has revealed.

Anti-landmine charities claimed last night that the letter by Adam
Ingram, the Armed Forces minister, proved that the Ministry of Defence
had broken international law by using the munitions in towns and cities.

Mr Ingram admitted for the first time yesterday that cluster bombs were
dropped on "built-up areas" in Iraq in an attempt to protect British
servicemen. After initially denying the charge in an interview with the
BBC, the minister said the unguided weapons, which release hundreds of
bomblets, were used "in specific circumstances where there is a threat
to our troops".

But on 25 March, five days after the conflict began, Mr Ingram responded
on behalf of Tony Blair to the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fund to
set out the Government's position on the weapons.

Mr Ingram stressed that the British armed forces strove to act in
accordance with the Geneva Conventions. "It is clear that when we apply
these principles there will be occasions when the use of cluster bombs
against certain targets would not be legal," he wrote. "There will be
occasions when the use of other munitions would be legal but the use of
cluster bombs would not."

Richard Lloyd, director of the charity Landmine Action, said the letter,
with yesterday's admission, proved the Geneva Conventions were knowingly
breached. "Mr Ingram has admitted the Government acted outside the law,"
he said.

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[Stefano De Cesari]

Mastro Lingo wrote:
>
>The Government admitted during the war on Iraq that the use of cluster
>bombs against civilian targets would "not be legal",

*ROTFL*
Praticamente ha scoperto l'acqua calda :)
Qualsiasi bomba lanciata contro obiettivi civili non sarebbe legale, che
sia cluster o che sia intelligente o che sia stupida :)

>Anti-landmine charities claimed last night that the letter by Adam
>Ingram, the Armed Forces minister, proved that the Ministry of Defence
>had broken international law by using the munitions in towns and
>cities.

Usare munizioni in citta' non e' contro le leggi internazionali.
Lo e' se usi tali munizioni CONTRO OBIETTIVI CIVILI, che e' una cosa
diversa.

>Mr Ingram admitted for the first time yesterday that cluster bombs were
>dropped on "built-up areas" in Iraq in an attempt to protect British
>servicemen.

Il che, ammesso che sia vero, dice ben poco.

>were used "in specific circumstances where there is a threat to our
>troops".

E quindi contro obiettivi militari :)
Se poi si trovano all'interno di una citta' non cambia nulla.

>Richard Lloyd, director of the charity Landmine Action, said the
>letter, with yesterday's admission, proved the Geneva Conventions
>were knowingly breached.

*ROTFL*
Come no! :))

>"Mr Ingram has admitted the Government acted outside the law," he said.

Purtroppo puo' dire anche che Mr Ingram ha ammesso che l'intero
conflitto era illegale :) La cosa sarebbe sempre da dimostrare :)

-Stefano