Treaty to ban cluster bombs within 8 years

The treaty's detailed definition of what a cluster bomb is — and isn't — also will allow development of more advanced weapons.

It specifies that designs are permitted if each weapon contains fewer than 10 bomblets. Each bomblet would have to weigh more than 8.8 pounds, contain targeting technology designed to single out a target, and have built-in security measures that would defuse duds.

The self-destruct rule is meant to reduce the number of civilians killed or maimed by bomblets. Rights groups say tens of thousands of people have stumbled across unexploded bomblets and accidentally detonated them.

The treaty says any future cluster bomb must meet all of those requirements "to avoid indiscriminate area effects and the risks posed by unexploded submunitions."

Campaigners against the use of cluster bombs welcomed the treaty's commitment requiring signatories to fund projects that will clear up unexploded bomblets and support families and communities victimized by cluster munitions.

"We think this will make a huge difference to people around the world and it will save many lives and limbs," said Simon Conway, a former British soldier and mine-clearance expert who directs an umbrella group called the Cluster Munitions Coalition.

Concerns and disappointment
But they also expressed worries that the treaty concedes too many loopholes.

"We do feel some disappointment, because we have the feeling we missed the chance to make clear that (treaty supporters) should not assist other counties that are using cluster munitions," said Hildegarde Vansintjan, spokeswoman for Handicap International.

But Vansintjan, whose group has spent more than a decade helping people who have lost limbs, sight or other faculties in cluster-bomb explosions, is happy the pact provides for governments to help victims of cluster munitions.

"We are confident that many nations now will provide what the victims really need," she said

More from msnbc.com Move over, feds — locals try stimulus, too  Daily Nightly: Tim McGraw helps neighbors in need Were you paying attention? Take our weekly quiz World Blog: China puts foot down on 'Oba Mao' T-shirts Scoop: Levi Johnston poses with only a hockey stick Stimulus tracker: See where millions of dollars went On Twitter: Breaking news updates | Weird and wild

MORE FROM EUROPE

Europe Section Front

Blasts at Russian ammo depot kill 2 Russian policemen turn to YouTube Desert bones linked to German tourists New Italian museum has eye toward art’s future Exhibit unmasks horror of human trafficking Eastwood made Legion of Honor commander Europe Section Front   Add Europe headlines to your news reader: