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OSLO — In a surprising last-minute change of policy, the government of President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan agreed Wednesday to join about 100 nations signing a treaty banning the use of cluster munitions, Afghan officials said.

The decision appeared to reflect Mr. Karzai’s growing independence from the Bush administration, which has opposed the treaty and, according to a senior Afghan official who requested anonymity because of the sensitivity of the issue, had urged Mr. Karzai not to sign it.

A group of Afghan survivors of cluster bombs, most of them in wheelchairs or on crutches, burst into tears when they heard

Afghanistan "joins Laos and Lebanon among the most affected nations

"This is a huge step for Afghanistan towards policy independence from the United States."

“Until this morning, our position was that we were unable,”

“But given the persistent campaign by the various civil society organizations and victims,” he said, Mr. Karzai gave his authorization.