The mayor of Aleppo says the international community hasn't done enough to stop the violence in the Syrian city.

The Trudeau Liberals are facing criticism at home and abroad for not closing a controversial legal loophole that allows the Canadian Forces to operate alongside allies, such as the United States, which use cluster bombs.

The companies are named in a report, released Thursday in Ottawa, by the Dutch peace group PAX.

Government officials defended a loophole in a much-maligned bill that would ratify Canada's participation in the international treaty to ban deadly cluster bombs.

Baird made no promises he would back down from a clause that would allow Canada to be involved in the use of cluster bombs in joint operations with the US.

Canada is planning to answer a plea by the tiny South Asian country of Laos and restart funding to help it cope with its infestation of deadly cluster bombs.