A war crimes lawsuit was filed in Belgium this week against former US President George Bush senior, Vice President Dick Cheney, Secretary of State Colin Powell and retired US Army General Norman Schwarzkopf, by a group of seven Baghdad families.
Members of the seven families were injured or killed in a US air raid on the civilian Amiriyah shelter that left 403 dead during operation Desert Storm in 1991. US officials slammed the lawsuit, claiming it was a military command center used to shelter civilians.
Two of the plaintiffs, who currently reside in Belgium, are leading the motion under the Belgian universal competence law, which allows legal proceedings against people accused of war crimes, crimes against humanity, or genocide, regardless of their nationality or location.
The Belgian law has already been put to use against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, for his role in the massacre of Palestinians in Beirut in 1982. The case has been suspended while Sharon enjoys immunity as acting prime minister.
Among the 30-odd former political leaders currently are facing legal action in Belgium are Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat and Cuban President Fidel Castro. — (menareport.com)
© 2003 Mena Report (www.menareport.com)
