An international convention banning cluster bombs will come into force in August this year. The United Nations announced that it has now been ratified by the necessary 30 countries.

The final two countries to sign were Burkina Faso and Moldova. The United States, Russia, China and Israel have so far not ratified the treaty. The convention will apply only to signatory countries.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon described cluster bombs as "terrible weapons". He said they are unreliable and inaccurate, and responsible for maiming or killing many civilians, including children.