After initially seeking a complete ban on the military's use of cluster bombs, the Social Democrats and Social Liberals decided to compromise with the government and its supporting parties in allowing the controversial weapons under certain conditions, reported public broadcaster DR.
The two parties agreed that the military must now get approval from parliament before using the bombs, a proposal they and the Liberal-Conservative government, along with its supporting parties the Danish People's Party and the New Alliance, passed on Wednesday.
Cluster bombs are large bombs containing several smaller ones that launch themselves from the shell once it falls to a certain altitude. There are several different kinds of cluster bombs, but most have been criticised by humanitarian organisations as being indiscriminate and being responsible for extensive civilian casualties.
There is as yet no international ban on the bombs.
| Don't worry, the progressives will keep trying ... |
Søren Gade, the defence minister, said the military was now getting rid of one of its two types of cluster bombs, but claimed the reliability of the ones it is keeping had not been at issue in a recent Norwegian report on the subject.
Ove Dullum, one of the report's authors, argued there was basically no difference between the two types of cluster bombs. 'If you're going to get rid of one then you may as well chuck the other as well,' he said.
| "Might as well surrender, there's no difference," he added. |
The report states that one of the biggest problems with cluster bombs is that many of the smaller bombs ejected from the shell do not explode after hitting the ground, often detonating later after being inadvertently disturbed.
MPs from the Socialist People's Party and the Red-Green Alliance voted against the proposal and stuck to their call for a full ban on the controversial weapons.
The military currently has around 27,000 cluster bombs it will keep for battle and tactical bombing purposes. |