[originaltext] Italy, a major producer of land mines, has joined the campaign

Italy, a major producer of land mines, has joined the campaign to ban the weapons which kill and maim many thousands of people every year. The Chamber of Deputies, the Lower House of Parliament, voted 402 to 2 with 4 abstentions to ratify a 1980 convention that will commit Italy to drastically limit the use of land mines and help to clear mined areas.  Parliament also pledged Italy’s support for efforts led by the Secretary-General of the United Nations, the International Red Cross and the Swedish government to promote a total international ban on the production and export of the mines. The Italian Parliament acted at the request of Defence Minister.