UK 'must tighten arms controls'

The government must do more to ensure arms exports are not being used against civilians in war zones, a joint report by four select committees says.

The committees on arms export control welcomed Foreign Secretary David Miliband's decision earlier this year to revoke export licences to Israel.

But there are fears arms exported from the UK have been used against civilians in Sri Lanka's civil war.

The government said it shared the committees' concerns.

Britain is one of the world's biggest arms exporters.

But it has repeatedly been criticised by MPs for failing to live up to its own policy of ensuring equipment is not used to abuse human rights.