A leading human rights organization says weapons exports by members of the Group of Eight industrial states have fueled poverty and human rights abuses in poor and conflict-ridden countries like Burma and the Philippines.
The London-based Amnesty International report comes as foreign ministers from the G-8 meet in London.
The organization's secretary-general, Irene Khan, says G-8 commitments to end poverty and injustice cannot be taken seriously if some of the member states undermine efforts by deliberately approving arms transfers to repressive regimes.
Its report alleged that G-8 nations are responsible for more than 80% of the world's arms exports. Among the countries that have received those weapons are Sudan, the Republic of Congo and Colombia.
