AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL MEDIA RELEASE
Thursday 3 April 2003
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Iraq: Use of cluster bombs - Civilians pay the price
Amnesty International is deeply concerned about the high toll of civilian casualties and the use of cluster bombs in US
military attacks in heavily populated areas.
On 1 April, at least 33 civilians including many children were reportedly killed and around 300 injured in US attacks on
the town of al-Hilla. Amnesty International is particularly disturbed by reports that cluster bombs were used in the
attacks and may have been responsible for some of the civilian deaths.
"The use of cluster bombs in an attack on a civilian area of al-Hilla constitutes an indiscriminate attack and a grave
violation of international humanitarian law," Amnesty International NZ's spokesperson, Rebecca Lineham emphasised today.
"The civilian death toll in this conflict is being needlessly increased by the use of these weapons which scatter the
peril of death or injury across large areas."
"If the US is serious about protecting civilians, it must publicly commit to a moratorium on the use of cluster weapons.
Using cluster munitions will lead to more indiscriminate killing and injuring of civilians," she added.
"We expect the issue of cluster bombs to be included in the New Zealand government's international campaign for human
rights in Iraq. A principled stand in support of the international protections for civilians must be matched by
proactive campaigning on real issues," said Rebecca Lineham.
According to reports, the type of cluster bomblets used in al-Hilla was BLU97 A/B. Each cannister contains 202 small
bomblets -- BLU97 -- the size of a soft drink can. These cluster bomblets scatter over a large area approximately the
size of two football fields. At least 5% of these 'dud' bomblets do not explode upon impact, turning them into de facto
anti-personnel mines because they continue to pose a threat to people, including civilians, who come into contact with
them.
ENDS