Poland to use antipersonnel mines on eastern border with Russia

POLAND will use antipersonnel as well as antitank land mines to defend its eastern border against the growing threat from Russia, Poland’s deputy defence minister said yesterday, as the country officially left an international convention banning the use of the controversial weapons.

- 

‘The 1997 Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, also known as the Ottawa Convention, prohibits signatories from keeping or using antipersonnel mines, which can last for years and are known for having caused large-scale suffering among civilians in former conflict’ zones in countries including Cambodia, Angola and Bosnia-Herzegovina.