A new report from Amnesty International says an Isle of Man company played a key role in shipping battle tanks to war-torn South Sudan.

According to an investigation the charity carried out in 2009, the Ukrainian-made T-72M1 tanks were transported via Kenya on ships chartered by Ace Shipping.

The firm has its registered offices in Parliament Street in Ramsey.

Amnesty says the company didn’t break any laws, saying inadequacies in legal regulations covering arms shipments means it bears no legal responsibility.

The report says the companies chartering the ships weren’t covered by export controls because the rules don’t apply to foreign-flagged vessels.

Amnesty International says the supply of tanks to the Sudan People’s Liberation Army sparked horrifying attacks on civilians in 2010 and 2011.

Its report has been released as the United Nations gathers in New York to negotiate a new arms trade treaty.

Amnesty International says stronger controls and better rules are needed to end arms transfers which could be used for serious violations of human rights or war crimes.