Cluster Bombs on Sale at Arms Fair

The Independent today reports that cluster bombs are being offered for sale at the ExCel Centre arms fair. Unicef, the United Nations children's organisation, has reported that more than 1,000 children were injured by unexploded ordnance, including cluster bombs, after the official end of the Iraq war in 2003.

There was an intriguing comment in the report from Paul Beaver, spokesman for DSEi, on being told that at least one company was willing to sell the weapons at the fair (after insisting that cluster bonbs were "not for sale and not even a topic of conversation"). Beaver said:

"I'm surprised you have found that, but you have to remember they are not illegal. There are far worse weapons, you know."

So that's alright then...