Britain to investigate cluster bomb usage in Yemen says defence secretary

Britain is investigating reports that cluster munitions have been used by a Saudi-led coalition in its on-going campaign against Houthi militants in Yemen, reports Reuters.

The British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond announced the formal investigation in parliament on Tuesday after Amnesty international on Monday said that it had documented Saudi use of cluster bombs in Yemen that had been manufactured in Britain in the 1970s.

Speaking in parliament, Mr Hammond said,

“The MoD is now urgently investigating the allegations that have been made.”

The British defence secretary added that Britain has ratified an international treaty prohibiting the use of cluster bombs and made it illegal to use or supply such bombs under British law.

 

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