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Fuel-air munitions used on civilan targets

by IRTAG Media | November 30, 2008 at 05:44 am

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Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF) bombers that attacked the hamlet of Internally Displaced Persons bordering Piramanthanaa'ru and Uzhavanoor in the early hours of Saturday have deployed Russian made ODAB-500 PM cluster bombs in their indiscriminate attack that killed three civilians, including a child, eyewitnesses told TamilNet's Vanni correspondent on Saturday. Seven children were among the wounded. Colombo's use of cluster bomb comes as more than 100 countries are scheduled to meet in Oslo on Wednesday to sign a treaty banning the use of cluster bombs.

The indiscriminate bombardment has destroyed more than 29 shelters of the IDPs within the 'secure zone' announced by Colombo government a few weeks ago.

Fuel-air explosives, referred to by the Russians as ODAB-500 weapons dispense a cloud of fuel near the ground that mixes with the air. Ignition produces a heightened explosive effect. The ODAB (volume-detonation free-fall bombs) types were extensively used by Russia during the second Chechnyan war .

Sri Lanka has banned all internaltional NGOs from operating in the LTTE held regions while enforcing a strict economic, food & medical embargo.

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Paschen

at 06:05 on November 30th, 2008

Do you have any further sources for this news other then the Tamil net?

IRTAG Media

at 11:32 on November 30th, 2008

Unfortunately not. Along with the NGOs, the international & domestic media are banned from visiting the LTTE held regions. TamilNet is probably the only available source at the moment.