'Lancet' attacks owner over arms

Reed Elsevier, the publishing giant, has been denounced by one of its own journals, The Lancet, for its links to the arms trade.

The prestigious Lancet will publish an editorial today saying it is "deeply troubled" by Reed Elsevier's backing for a major defence industry trade show to be held in London this month.

In particular, the publication is concerned that manufacturers of cluster bombs, "the worst kind of weapon", will exhibit their product at the Defence Systems And Equipment International (DSEi) trade fair.

"It will be incomprehensible to the journal's readers that our owners are engaged in a business that so clearly undermines not only principles of public-health practice, but also the policies of intergovernmental agencies," The Lancet said.

Reed Elsevier is a world leader in science publishing but it also puts on 400 trade exhibitions a year.

The company said: "It is Reed Elsevier Group Plc's view that the defence industry is necessary for upholding national security, for the preservation of democratic values and supporting the ever widening role played by the Armed Forces."

The company also said all products being sold at the DSEi show were legal. The Lancet felt that this was no justification.

The journal said it would be "naive to argue that the legality of a weapon somehow absolves a country, manufacturer, or even an exhibitions company from a judgement about the weapon's use, sale, or promotion".

The Lancet called for Reed Elsevier to "divest itself of all business interests that threaten human, and especially civilian, health and well-being".