Lebanon: Israeli cluster bomb danger

Reuters

Experts from the United Nations have identified 10 places where Israel used cluster bombs in its air strikes on southern Lebanon and fear there could be many more, a human rights group said on Thursday.

At least 16 people have been killed or wounded by munitions which exploded long after they were fired, and the casualty figure could rise, U.S.-based Human Rights Watch said, citing U.N. de-mining teams in southern Lebanon.

"They have been able to visit only a limited region so far, and fear that the 10 sites identified in the first two days could be the tip of the iceberg," the group said.

It urged Israel to tell the United Nations exactly where it used cluster bombs during its 34-day conflict with Hizbollah guerrillas. A U.N.-backed truce took effect this week.

"With refugees streaming home, we're already seeing people falling victim to these dangerous duds," Kenneth Roth, executive director of Human Rights Watch, said in a statement. "A failure to act swiftly will lead to many more avoidable casualties. Read more