Afghans urge US and China to stop making land mines

20 Apr, 2004

Land mine victims missing limbs or confined to wheelchairs were among hundreds of Afghans who staged a demonstration on Monday calling on the United States and China to stop producing the explosive devices.
Protesters gathered in the centre of the dusty eastern town of Khost to press their demand.
"Look at us," said one disabled man, pointing at the remnants of his two amputated legs.
"We cannot work for the rest of our lives. We call on the big powers, such as America and China, who still have not joined the treaty banning landmines, to stop the production of mines."
Land mines, called the "hidden enemy", kill or maim up to 200 people each month in Afghanistan, one of the world's most heavily mined countries.

Read Comments