Trump lifts US restrictions on anti-personnel landmines

US President Donald Trump's administration on Friday lifted US restrictions on landmines, saying new technology made them safer, outraging campaigners for the abolition of the explosives that maim thousands of civilians each year.

In the latest reversal of a policy of his predecessor Barack Obama, Trump gave the green light to a new generation of "non-persistent" landmines that can be switched off or destroyed remotely rather than staying active in the ground forever.

"The Department of Defense has determined that restrictions imposed on American forces by the Obama administration's policy could place them at a severe disadvantage during a conflict against our adversaries," a White House statement said.

"The president is unwilling to accept this risk to our troops... President Trump is rebuilding our military, and it is stronger than ever."
The White House said the US military will now be free to deploy landmines around the world "in exceptional circumstances."
"There are acts of war that are simply outside all rules. Mines belong to that category."
"I urge you, in the strongest terms possible, not to undo decades of precedent on anti-personnel landmines."