US rejects landmine treaty

OSLO - The United States said yesterday it could not sign a global treaty banning anti-personnel landmines in the form produced…

OSLO - The United States said yesterday it could not sign a global treaty banning anti-personnel landmines in the form produced by a multinational conference in Oslo, although it was committed to signing on the right terms.

A draft of the treaty prohibiting the use, production, sale and storing of landmines was released yesterday for the 100 or so participating countries to send back to their capitals, with the conference expected to adopt the document next week.

But the US, which has failed to win support for its calls to exempt three anti-tank weapons with anti-personnel devices and to exempt Korea from the accord, said it could not sign this treaty. - (Reuter)