Security

Georgian Cluster Bombs Killed Civilians: Report

Observers howled, back in August, when Human Rights Watch uncovered evidence that Russian cluster bombs had killed 11 civilians during the South Ossetia conflict. Since then, the situation has grown more complex. HRW not only found that the Georgians used cluster munitions, too; the group now says those bombs killed at least three civilians. The […]

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Observers howled, back in August, when Human Rights Watch uncovered evidence that Russian cluster bombs had killed 11 civilians during the South Ossetia conflict. Since then, the situation has grown more complex. HRW not only found that the Georgians used cluster munitions, too; the group now says those bombs killed at least three civilians.

The Georgians were using the Israel-made M85 bomblet, which has left large numbers of dangerous duds in previous conflicts. The Georgians accept that they did use these weapons, but never in a way that would endanger civilians:

*"**The Georgian government said it used cluster munitions during the August 2008 armed conflict with Russia, Human Rights Watch said today. In a letter to Human Rights Watch, the Georgian Defense Ministry stated that cluster rockets were “used against Russian military equipment and armament marching from Roki tunnel to Dzara road [sic],” but that they “were never used against civilians, civilian targets and civilian populated or nearby areas.” *

But HRW analyst Marc Garlasco tells the* Wall Street Journal* that Tblisi's cluster bombs appear to have malfunctioned on an "absolutely massive scale."

He said rockets failed to disperse the cluster bombs over the intended targets, and many of the small bombs failed to explode on impact.

Georgia remains littered with thousands of leftover bombs that can be easily triggered by anyone who accidentally touches them, he said. The bombs killed at least three Georgian civilians, the group concluded, including two who died when they accidentally touched unexploded bombs after the fighting ended.

The Georgian government still denies being involved, a Ministry Of
Defense spokesman is quoted as saying that "intensive investigations"
will be carried out on the matter. Previously the Georgians have claimed that M85 apparently identified by HRW in civilian areas were a different version to the ones in their arsenal. Does this point to a sophisticated Russian false flag operation, misidentification by HRW -- or simply propaganda?

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