(New York, October 31, 2001) -- The United States should immediately stop using cluster bombs in Afghanistan because they pose an unacceptable risk to civilians, Human Rights Watch said in a backgrounder released today.
The backgrounder details U.S. use of cluster bombs in Afghanistan so far, as well as the history of the weapon's use in Kosovo and the Persian Gulf War.
A copy of the backgrounder is available at http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/arms/cluster-bck1031.htm.
For more information on landmines in Afghanistan, please see Landmine Use in Afghanistan (HRW Backgrounder, October 2001) at http://www.hrw.org/backgrounder/arms/landmines-bck1011.htm
Afghanistan: Key Human Rights Documents at http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/afghanistan/index.htm
For more information on human rights and the September 11 attacks on the United States, please see
September 11 Attacks: Crimes Against Humanity (HRW Focus Page) at http://www.hrw.org/campaigns/september11/