More child suicide bombers

2008-09-09 21:01

Geneva - More children are being used as suicide bombers, and at least 1 900 minors are being held in military prisons, a United Nations expert said on Tuesday.

"In the battle between terrorism and counter-terrorism, many insurgent groups are not only mobilizing children in their political and military activities, but are using them as child suicide bombers," said Radhika Coomarawamy, the UN's special representative for children and armed conflict.

Coomarawamy, who presented her report on the issue on Tuesday to the Human Rights Council, said some 500 children were being held by the US military, while 1&nbso;000 children were under Iraqi military custody.

In Israel and in the Palestinian territory, 400 children are being held by the Israelis.

Coomarawamy pointed out that child suicide bombers have been used in both Afghanistan and Iraq, although no numbers were available.

"We have heard from people in the field in Iraq, since 2004, there has been a rapid increase in recruitment, due to sectarian violence as well," she said.

In Afghanistan, there has also been a rapid increase in recruitment of young children across the Pakistani border over the last 18 months, she said.

At the moment, four children are held in Afghanisan after having attempted and failed in a suicide attack, she said.

- AFP