Singapore  - Singapore will not sign the Convention on Cluster Munitions on December 3 in Olso but has indefinitely banned exports of the bombs, which the city-state described as legitimate weapons for self-defence, The Straits Times reported Thursday.

A joint statement from the Defence and Foreign ministries expressed Singapore's concerned about humanitarian issues arising from irresponsible and indiscriminate use of cluster munitions. The government pointed out that a blanket ban on such weapons would be impractical, as many countries still saw the need to keep stockpiles for legitimate self-defensive purposes.

Cluster bombs are used militarily to attack large formations of ground forces, because the explosive bomblets can spread out over a large area. However, unexploded bomblets can remain dangerous on a battlefield for years, causing later civilian casualties, especially to children who mistake the devices for toys or trinkets and are killed or maimed when their handling of the bomblets causes detonation.

More than 100 countries have adopted and would sign the Oslo convention prohibiting the use, production, transfer and stockpiling cluster munitions, which according to the United Nations Development Programme have caused more than 13,000 injuries and deaths around the world, especially in war-torn Afghanistan, Laos and Vietnam.

The statement said that Singapore's indefinite export moratorium would ensure that its own cluster munitions would not fall into the hands of parties who might use such weapons irresponsibly and indiscriminately. "Through this imposition, we help stem the proliferation of cluster munitions," it said.

The statement issued Wednesday assured that Singapore remained committed to the responsible use of cluster munitions for self- defence. Singapore would continue to work with the international community to find a comprehensive solution to the humanitarian problems caused by misuse of such weapons, said the statement.

Singapore joins several countries including the United States, China and Russia in not signing the Oslo convention, according to the daily report. (dpa)