Nigeria should rescind U.S. war crimes pact-Senate

[Judi Lynn]

Nigeria should rescind U.S. war crimes pact-Senate
Thu Aug 18, 2005 11:34 AM ET

LAGOS (Reuters) - The Nigerian Senate has passed a resolution calling on the executive to rescind a pact signed with the United States prohibiting the surrender of suspected war criminals to the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The two sides signed an agreement in June 2003 promising not to extradite citizens of either country to the court, which is opposed by Washington, despite Nigeria's pre-existing signature on the Rome Statute establishing the ICC.

"The executive should rescind from the agreement signed with the United States of America by giving the stipulated one year notice of intent to terminate the agreement," said the resolution released to Reuters on Thursday.

The Senate reminded the executive that the constitution gives the National Assembly the right to rule on international treaties and warned it not to enter agreements that nullify Nigeria's existing international obligations. Senate resolutions are not legally binding on the government.
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http://today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?type=politicsNews&storyID=2005-08-18T153348Z_01_SCH856018_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-NIGERIA-USA-COURT-DC.XML