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UK-made cluster bombs used in Yemen, Michael Fallon confirms | |
(about 1 hour later) | |
Cluster bombs made in the UK have been used in the conflict in Yemen, the government has confirmed. | |
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon said Saudi Arabia had confirmed munitions bought from the UK in the 1980s had been dropped. | |
Since 2010 it has been illegal under British law to supply the bombs, which put civilians at risk by releasing small bomblets over a wide area. | Since 2010 it has been illegal under British law to supply the bombs, which put civilians at risk by releasing small bomblets over a wide area. |
Labour said it was "deeply worrying" cluster bomb use had been confirmed. | |
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. |
In a statement to MPs, Mr Fallon said the UK had not supplied any cluster bombs to Saudi Arabia since 1989. | |
But he added that Saudi investigations had concluded that some UK-made cluster bombs had been dropped. | |
The BL-755 bombs will no longer be used by the coalition, he added. | |
Cluster bombs explained | |
Source: United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs | |
Amnesty International, which says it has documented the use in Yemen of a cluster bomb manufactured in the 1970s, has called on the UK to trace weapons made and sold before the ban. | Amnesty International, which says it has documented the use in Yemen of a cluster bomb manufactured in the 1970s, has called on the UK to trace weapons made and sold before the ban. |
Earlier the Saudi state news agency reported a coalition spokesman saying cluster bombs were only used against "legitimate military targets". | |
He added: "It has become apparent that there was limited use by the Coalition of the UK-manufactured BL-755 cluster munition in Yemen. | He added: "It has become apparent that there was limited use by the Coalition of the UK-manufactured BL-755 cluster munition in Yemen. |
"This munition was used against legitimate military targets to defend Saudi towns and villages against continuous attacks by Houthi militia, which resulted in Saudi civilian casualties." | "This munition was used against legitimate military targets to defend Saudi towns and villages against continuous attacks by Houthi militia, which resulted in Saudi civilian casualties." |