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Landslide UN vote in favour of Arms Trade Treaty

The United Nations First Committee on disarmament voted overwhelmingly on Friday 31 October to move forward with work on an Arms Trade Treaty. 147 states (including two after the electronic board closed) voted Yes to an Open-Ended Working Group which will meet for a maximum of six sessions, beginning in early 2009.

First Bangladesh National Peace Forum

Over 900 delegates representing 43 districts of the countryattended the first National Peace Forum in Dhaka, 26 October 2008. Speakers urged the government to promote a nuclear-free zone in South Asia and also to create employment to address the problem of armed violence and religious fanaticism.

Pakistan arms its tribes with Chinese AK-47s

China has sold tens of thousands of AK-47 assault rifles to Pakistan, where they will be handed out to anti-Taliban tribal fighters in the northern border region. The Washington Post reports that President Asif Ali Zardari secured the deal during a visit to Beijing this month.  

DR Congo: Rwanda implicated; new fighting in Ituri
The Congolese national army has exhibited items recovered from a gun battle on 7 October in North Kivu, claiming they offer “irrefutable proof” that Rwandan Defence Forces are fighting alongside rebel commander Laurent Nkunda.

Letter from UK Foreign Secretary thanking the Control Arms Campaign