Landmine ban has ‘loophole’: from the archive, 1 August 1998

A ban on the use of landmines by British forces won't cover troops working with Nato

George Robertson, the Defence Secretary, yesterday announced an immediate and total ban on the use of anti-personnel landmines by British forces as the Government ratified an international convention outlawing the indiscriminate weapon estimated to kill or maim 2,000 people a month.

The government decided earlier this month to bow to intense public pressure and rush through a Landmines Act in time for the first anniversary of the death of Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, who championed the campaign against the weapon.