The House of Representatives on Tuesday unanimously approved the signing of an international treaty to ban the use and stockpiling of cluster bombs, which have been blamed for causing numerous civilian casualties.
With the opposition-controlled House of Councilors also set to give its approval, the treaty is certain to be ratified during the current Diet session. About ¥200 million has been earmarked in the fiscal 2009 budget for research on ways to dispose of cluster bombs in the Self-Defense Forces’ arsenal.
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