Landmine activists urge Bush to sign international treaty

Young activists hold up a banner at Saturday's rally in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Landmine opponents from around the world gathered opposite the White House on Saturday to urge President Bush to sign an international treaty to ban mines.

The rally, organized by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines, featured activists and landmine survivors from the United States and nearly 90 other countries. The group planned to present some 250,000 petition signatures in support of their cause.

ICBL ambassador Jody Williams, who won a Nobel peace prize for her efforts against landmines, said she hoped President Bush would bring the United States into treaty membership.

"Every country thinks that it needs an exception for its military needs," Williams told CNN. "But 139 countries have signed this treaty, including all of our NATO allies, except for Turkey and the United States. The entire Western Hemisphere, except the United States and Cuba. Certainly the sole remaining superpower can give up this weapon if all of our NATO allies can."

The 1997 Mine Ban Treaty bans the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel landmines.

Saturday's rally caps the campaign's "Ban Landmine Week," in which demonstrators and landmine survivors converged on Capitol Hill for meetings, discussions with lawmakers, and workshops on the issue.

Jordan's Queen Noor, honorary chair of Landmine Survivors Network and ICBL adviser, told the National Press Club Thursday she is "deeply concerned" that the United States has not signed the treaty.

"Now is the time to end the curse of landmines forever," said the queen.

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