Landmine decision welcomed

THE Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, yesterday welcomed a decision which will allow the international community to ban…

THE Minister for Foreign Affairs, Mr Burke, yesterday welcomed a decision which will allow the international community to ban anti-personnel landmines.

The move came at an international conference in Brussels at which 96 countries, including Ireland, adopted a Declaration on Anti-Personnel Landmines.

Mr Burke said he hoped the international community would press ahead with "the much-needed measure banning the use, stockpiling, production and weapons".

The Irish Red Cross Society welcomed the decision and said the momentum to ban landmines was now "irreversible".