Vientiane 12 November: The United Nations has hailed the outcome of this week's high-level meeting in Laos of signatories to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, describing it as an important step towards ridding the world of an abhorrent weapon.

The First Meeting of States Parties to the Convention – the largest international gathering ever hosted by the Government of Lao PDR – brought together delegates from 118 states and more than 560 civil society representatives. Read more