Campaigners blame Russia over cluster bomb use in Syria

Evidence is growing that Russia is behind a significant increase in the use of cluster bombs in Syria, campaigners have said.

A coalition of NGOs led by Human Rights Watch (HRW) said in an annual study on Thursday that more than 400 people were killed or maimed by the banned munitions in the world last year.

They linked the increased use of cluster bombs in Syria to Russian forces who are carrying out air strikes in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.

"Since Russia began its joint operation with Syrian forces at the end last September, we have seen an increase in the number of cluster munition attacks on opposition-held areas," Mary Wareham, HRW's arms advocacy director and editor of the report, told a press conference.

"And at the moment we see evidence of cluster munition attacks every week, if not almost every day, which is highly disturbing," Wareham added.

Russia has repeatedly denied using cluster bombs, which spray bomblets indiscriminately.

HRW admitted it was difficult to determine whether it was specifically Russian or Syrian forces which had used the bombs.

"Nonetheless, this is a joint military operation, so collectively together they are responsible for the actions of their coalition," Wareham said.

A total of 248 people were killed or injured by the munitions in Syria last year, almost all civilians, the Cluster Munition Monitor report said.