Hailstones set off unexploded cluster bombs

Published on Wednesday 21 November 2007 01:00

LEBANON'S first hailstorm of the season was a blessing in disguise for cluster bomb-infested southern parts of the country - setting off series of blasts yesterday from previously unexploded bomblets. No injuries were reported.

After a long dry spell , hailstones as big as walnuts hit the south's villages and struck bomblets scattered across the landscape, causing a string of blasts.

The United Nations and human rights groups accuse Israel of dropping about four million cluster bomblets during last year's war. Up to one million failed to explode and now endanger civilians in the area.

When cluster bombs are dropped they open in flight and eject hundreds of small bomblets across a wide area.