Blair: Landmines cause "enormous carnage"

Blair:UK landmine ban

Government Announces Landmine Ban

The Foreign Secretary, Robin Cook disclosed that Britain would to join an international initiative to secure a global ban on landmines in a significant policy switch.

"Every hour, another three people lose their life or lose a limb from stepping on a landmine," said Mr Cook.

"Thousands of young children who ran on to a landmine are left unable to run ever again. Landmines have limited military use but create unlimited civilian casualties," he continued.

But the armed forces will retain the right to ask ministers for authority to use remaining stocks if the lives of British forces are threatened.

The Government's determination to ban landmines was underlined by the Prime Minister. Mr Blair told the Commons that mines had caused "enormous carnage" often to innocent civilians and children and the sooner Britain took a lead in getting rid of them, the better.

Cook: New initiative on landmines

The Government's move is a huge boost for British campaigners led by Diana, Princess of Wales, who has braved political censure to speak out for a worldwide ban.

Martin Bell, the MP for Tatton, who has first-hand experience of the danger from mines from his coverage of 13 major wars for the BBC, used his maiden Commons speech on Tuesday to deliver a forceful plea for a ban, describing mines as a "curse and scourge".

Britain will destroy all its stocks of anti-personnel landmines by 2005 and look at ways to speed up their destruction. The concept of replacing some of the stocks with "smart mines" which self-destruct after a set period has been dropped.

A moratorium will be slapped on their use by UK forces until 2005 or until an international agreement comes into force, whichever comes first.

But the most fundamental change in policy is the decision to play a full part in the so-called Ottawa Process, a forum of 50 nations seeking to conclude an official treaty, possibly by the end of the year.

Mr Cook said Britain would negotiate constructively under the Ottawa Process with the aim of signing the expected treaty. A draft treaty was submitted to Britain on Monday and it is being studied by officials.

British officials admitted that a treaty could be ready for signing by the end of the year and Britain's stocks could be scrapped soon afterwards.