THE GOVERNMENT is being urged to publicly condemn Russia over its alleged use of cluster munitions against Georgian civilians last week.
A vigil was held outside the Russian embassy in Dublin yesterday to protest against the use of cluster bombs in the conflict over South Ossetia.
Cluster munitions consist of canisters packed with as many as 650 small bombs, or "bomblets" that scatter over a large area when a canister is dropped from an aircraft or fired from the ground. The bomblets often do not explode until long after a conflict is over.
Protesters at yesterday's vigil, organised by the Cluster Munitions Coalition Ireland and Action from Ireland, urged the Government to express its opposition to the use of cluster bombs in Georgia.
An international agreement to outlaw cluster munitions was adopted by more than 100 countries at a conference held in Dublin in May. Russia, along with other major cluster munitions users including the US, China, Pakistan and India, refused to sign the treaty. The Russian embassy in Dublin was unavailable for comment.
Meanwhile, Anthony Taylor, a member of Ireland's Rapid Response Corps, flew into Georgia yesterday to assist the humanitarian effort in the region.
