More than 100 nations, including the UK, have signed a treaty to ban current designs of cluster bombs.

Diplomats have agreed to back an international ban on the manufacture, use or stockpiling of the munitions, following 12 days of talks in Dublin.

Some 111 countries including the US, Russia and China have been urged to reconsider boycotting the treaty.

UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown has called the treaty a "big step forward to make the world a safer place".

UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon welcomed the landmark charter and encouraged all nations to sign up.