"Child soldiers are ideal because they don't complain, they don't expect to be paid and if you tell them to kill, they kill," are the words of a Chad army officer, quoted in a new report from The Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers.

The report says both governments and armed groups continue to force children to fight their wars. Although their numbers are apparently decreasing, non-state armed groups remain the biggest recruiters of child soldiers and the most resistant to change.

Director of the Coalition to Stop the Use of Child Soldiers, Victoria Forbes Adam, says: "Tens of thousands of children remain in the ranks of dozens of armed groups in at least 24 different countries or territories.''

The coalition says a concerted action is needed to stop the problem.

Forbes goes on to say: "It won't be easy, it requires those involved in conflict prevention, mediation, peace building and development to recognize this is not a marginal or specialist issue.''

Most governments deny using children as fighters or say they are trying to change practices.

But the report says nine still use children in their armies, Myanmar being the most persistent offender.