29.04.2003
U.S. Threatened with Iraq War Crimes Trial
Iraqi civilians are reportedly intending to bring charges in Belgium against U.S. General Tommy Franks for war crimes, possibly further straining ties with Washington after Brussels’ opposition to the war in Iraq.
Ten Iraqi civilians are planning to press war crimes charges against U.S. General Tommy Franks, the commander of the U.S.-led war in Iraq, the American newspaper the Washington Times reported.
The Iraqis, allegedly eyewitnesses and victims of U.S. atrocities, hold coalition forces responsible for numerous crimes, including failing to prevent looting, firing on an ambulance, shooting and injuring Iraqi civilians, causing the deaths of scores of people by bombing a Baghdad marketplace and killing at least ten passengers driving in a civilian bus near the town of Hillah.
"U.S. military officials had the authority but did nothing to stop these war crimes from occurring," Fermon told the newspaper. "A military commander is responsible for war crimes even if he did not commit or order them, but also if he fails to take all the necessary steps to prevent the atrocities from happening."
According to the report, Brussels-based human rights lawyer Jan Fermon, who intends to represent the Iraqis, said the complaint against Franks and other U.S. military officials would be filed in a Belgian court in about two weeks.
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http://www.dw-world.de/english/0,3367,1430_A_854497_1_A,00.html