I've LOVE to see this happen.
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Blair, Bush could face probe at The
Hague
Gethin Chamberlain, London
March 19, 2007
TONY Blair could face the prospect of an International Criminal
Court investigation for alleged coalition war crimes in Iraq.
The court's chief prosecutor said at the weekend that he would be
willing to launch an inquiry and could envisage a scenario in which
the British Prime Minister and US President George Bush could one
day face charges at The Hague.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo urged Arab countries, particularly Iraq, to sign
up to the court to enable allegations against the West to be
pursued. Iraq's ambassador to the United Nations said that his
country was actively considering signing up.
The US has refused to accept the court's jurisdiction and is
unlikely to hand over any of its citizens to face trial. However,
Britain has signed up and the Government has indicated its
willingness to tackle accusations of war crimes against a number of
British soldiers.
Mr Moreno-Ocampo said it was frustrating that the court was viewed
in the Arab world as biased in favour of the West.
Asked whether he could envisage a situation in which Mr Blair and
Mr Bush found themselves in the dock answering charges of war
crimes in Iraq, he replied: "Of course, that could be a possibility
whatever country joins the court can know that whoever commits a
crime in their country could be prosecuted by me."
Human rights lawyers remain sceptical about whether charges will
ever be brought.
Some Muslim countries have criticised what they claim is the
court's reluctance to deal with offences committed by Western
governments. Sudan has called for the court to investigate
coalition actions in Iraq.
(source: The Age)
