Joe Biden defends ‘difficult decision’ to send cluster munitions to Ukraine

Rights groups condemn supply of widely banned weapons and fellow Democrat calls it a terrible mistake'

• What are cluster bombs?

Joe Biden has defended the difficult decision" to send widely banned cluster munitions to Ukraine, after he was condemned by human rights groups and a fellow Democrat said it was unnecessary and a terrible mistake".

Cluster munitions are prohibited by more than 100 countries. They typically scatter numerous smaller bomblets over a wide area, sometimes as big as a football pitch, and can kill indiscriminately. Those that fail to explode threaten civilians, especially children, for decades after a conflict ends.