Britain reviewing crowd control weapons exports, says Hague

Review of small arms exports to Middle East and north Africa follows revoking of licences to Libya and Bahrain

Britain is reviewing its arms exports to the Middle East and north Africa, which have included crowd control weapons and small arms to Bahrain and Libya, the foreign secretary, William Hague, said on Wednesday.

Exports recently cleared for export to Bahrain include more than 100 assault rifles, over 50 sub-machine guns, stun grenades, tear gas ammunition, riot control agents, and components for "military devices for initiating explosives", according to the latest official figures.

The Guardian reported last month that the British government had approved the sale to Libya of a wide range of equipment for use against civilians, including teargas and "crowd control ammunition", as well as sniper rifles.

Export licences increased significantly and were valued at more than £200m over the first nine months of last year, according to figures compiled by the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills for the Foreign Office.

Export licences for such equipment to Libya and Bahrain have now been revoked, according to government officials. UK and EU arms trade guidelines say arms sales should be banned if the weapons could be used for internal repression.

Pressed by Conservative MP John Baron, Hague told the Commons foreign affairs committee: "We do have to review how our export controls work." However, he drew a distinction between what he called "crowd control mechanisms" and weapons Gulf states such as Kuwait needed for their "external security".


http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/mar/16/britain-reviewing-weapons-exports

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