Ecuador Refuses to Sign U.S. Immunity Pact

[cynatnite]

QUITO, Ecuador - Ecuador will not sign a pact to grant U.S. military personnel special immunity from the International Criminal Court, even if that means more aid cuts from Washington, the foreign minister said Thursday.

"If the United States decides it cannot provide aid if we do not sign this, well, we very much regret that we will not receive the aid," Antonio Parra told Channel 6 television.

President Bush opposes the International Criminal Court, which started operating in 2003. His administration argues it could be used for frivolous or politically motivated prosecutions of American troops.

Last year, Bush signed into law a measure to cut off hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid to countries that belong to the court but have not signed a bilateral immunity agreement with the United States.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050624/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/ecuador_us