NABATIYEH, Lebanon, Aug 27, 2006 (AFP) - Three children and a man were wounded Sunday by cluster bombs in southern Lebanon, medical sources said, bringing to almost 60 the number of people hurt by the controversial explosives since a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah two weeks ago.

The children, aged six to 11 years old, were wounded when one of six bomblets littering the garden of their home exploded in the town of Blida, near the border with Israel.

A 39-year-old man in the frontier town of Houla was also hurt when a cluster bomb exploded in his home, medical officials said.

Despite a massive public awareness campaign warning people of the thousands of unexploded cluster bombs left over from Israel's month-long blitz against Hezbollah fighters, casualties are reported each day.

Since the August 14 ceasefire, 11 people, including three members of a Lebanese army demining unit, have been killed and 47 wounded, according to government figures.

More than 200 cluster bomb strikes have been found so far across southern Lebanon, which was heavily bombed and shelled during Israel's offensive.

Use of the munitions is often criticised for killing indiscriminately and over a long period of time as many fail to detonate on impact and are spread over a large area.

The United States said last week it would probe Israel's use of US-made cluster bombs, after the United Nations and international rights groups sounded alarms about what they call a growing emergency, saying the munitions were reaping a bloody toll among returning refugees.

©2006 AFP All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or distributed. All reproduction or redistribution is expressly forbidden without the prior written agreement of AFP.

top