Annan Against U.S. War Crimes Exemption

[shraby]

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Defying the United States, Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the U.N. Security Council on Thursday to stop shielding American peacekeepers from international prosecution for war crimes.

Annan cited the U.S. prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq in opposing a U.S. resolution calling for the blanket exemption for a third straight year.

The United States introduced the resolution last month but has delayed calling for a vote. Despite intensive lobbying, Washington doesn't have the minimum nine ``yes'' votes on the 15-member council to approve a new exemption, council diplomats said.
The current exemption expires June 30.

The Bush administration argues that the International Criminal Court -which started operating last year - could be used for frivolous or politically motivated prosecutions of American troops.

(more)
<http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-4215827,00.html>

[shraby]

1. Just had a thought...

Does the exemption ending on June 30 have anything to do with the date chosen for handing over authority to Iraq on June 30?

[corriger]

2. yeah the bushista are pretty damned frivolous were they not

such a danger to the west. My sincerest hope is that the council will vote against another utterly ill deserved exemption. It is long past the time for US to start meeting its international obligations and to cease acting as a rogue state on the world stage.