US to plug loopholes on arms sale

Quoting American and European officials, the Times reported that despite the US laws intended to curb international trafficking in arms, the Clinton administration has discovered that Washington has no control over where American arms end up once they are shipped to Europe.

Law enforcement officials in Europe and US were quoted as saying thousands of high-powered semi-automatic American pistols and rifles sold to Europe in last few years have ended up fuelling violent conflicts in several areas.

These include regions as apart as Rwanda, countries once part of Yugoslavia, Algeria and Turkey. There are indications that the American arms also ended up in the hands of street criminalsand found their way to Iraq and Iran.

The paper said the Clinton administration officials, who are making a major effort to stem the illicit movement of firearms, say they discovered “European Union loophole” during negotiations this year over a treaty to regulate import and export of firearms.

The US will present its proposals in Birmingham, Britain, at the summit meeting of leading industrial countries, the so-called Group of Seven and Russia, in May.

American law requires foreign purchasers of firearms and military equipment to sign a statement that they will not re-export goods to another country without authorisation of the State Department which issues licences.