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| UK 'takes very seriously' claims of cluster bomb use in Yemen | UK 'takes very seriously' claims of cluster bomb use in Yemen |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The government says it takes reports that British-made cluster bombs have been used by Saudi forces in Yemen "extremely seriously". | The government says it takes reports that British-made cluster bombs have been used by Saudi forces in Yemen "extremely seriously". |
| Under British law it is illegal to supply the bombs, which release small bomblets over a wide area. | Under British law it is illegal to supply the bombs, which release small bomblets over a wide area. |
| According to The Guardian, government investigations back up claims reports cluster bombs have been deployed. | According to The Guardian, government investigations back up claims reports cluster bombs have been deployed. |
| Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is to make a statement on the issue to MPs later on Monday. | Defence Secretary Michael Fallon is to make a statement on the issue to MPs later on Monday. |
| The UK is supporting the Saudi-led coalition which is fighting the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen. | The UK is supporting the Saudi-led coalition which is fighting the Houthi rebel movement in Yemen. |
| Analysis: By Frank Gardner, BBC Security Correspondent | |
| Reports that British-made cluster bombs have been used in the Yemen conflict - despite earlier denials by the Saudis - are certainly embarrassing for the UK government. But it is unclear if - in this particular case - the UK has acted in breach of international humanitarian law. | |
| The weapons in question, seen on the ground by Amnesty International and others, were sold to Saudi Arabia and the UAE before the Convention on (prohibition of) Cluster Munitions came into effect in 2010. | |
| The Saudis say they haven't used the British-made cluster bombs in Yemen because they have all expired. But a Whitehall official has told the BBC that someone within the Saudi-led Coalition appears to have acted without authority and ordered a small amount of them to be used, a case of the right hand not knowing what the left is doing. | |
| The UK Government has commissioned its own report into the use of these weapons and, while that has not been made public the indications are that it supports the findings made by Amnesty and others. | |
| Amnesty International says it has documented the use of a cluster bomb, manufactured in the 1970s, in Yemen and has called on the UK to trace weapons made and sold before the ban. | Amnesty International says it has documented the use of a cluster bomb, manufactured in the 1970s, in Yemen and has called on the UK to trace weapons made and sold before the ban. |
| The Guardian said while analysis given to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon suggested UK-made cluster bombs had been used, Saudi Arabia had not yet provided "definitive confirmation". | The Guardian said while analysis given to Defence Secretary Michael Fallon suggested UK-made cluster bombs had been used, Saudi Arabia had not yet provided "definitive confirmation". |
| Mr Fallon is due to make a statement about Yemen to MPs later. | Mr Fallon is due to make a statement about Yemen to MPs later. |
| A Government spokesman said: "The government takes such allegations very seriously. We have analysed the case carefully using all available information, considering all possibilities, and raised the issue with the Saudi-led coalition." | A Government spokesman said: "The government takes such allegations very seriously. We have analysed the case carefully using all available information, considering all possibilities, and raised the issue with the Saudi-led coalition." |
| Cluster bombs explained | |
| Source: United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs |