US war crimes immunity bid fails
The prisoner abuse scandal undermined support for the US
The US has given up trying to win its soldiers immunity from prosecution at the new International Criminal Court.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan had warned the Security Council not to renew the measure, partly because of the prisoner abuse scandal.
Washington withdrew its resolution after it became clear it would not get the required support.
For the last two years it had secured special status for US troops, arguing they could face malicious prosecutions.
"The United States has decided not to proceed further with consideration and action on the draft at this time in order to avoid a prolonged and divisive debate," said the US deputy ambassador to the UN James Cunningham.
Blanket exemption is wrong. It is of dubious judicial value and I don't think it should be encouraged by the council.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
"We are dropping action on this resolution."
In the past, the US has threatened to veto UN peacekeeping operations if its demands for exemption from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague were not met.
Mr Cunningham did not repeat the warning, but said the US would in future "need to take into account the risk of ICC review when determining contributions to UN authorised or established operations".
The US offered a compromise to the Security Council on Tuesday, asking it to renew the existing immunity for just one more year.
But it was not enough to gain the necessary support of nine out of the 15 council members.
Earlier this month Mr Annan said if the exemption - which expires on 30 June - were extended, it would discredit the UN's claim to represent the rule of law.
"For the past two years, I have spoken quite strongly against the exemption and I think it would be unfortunate for one to press for such an exemption, given the prisoner abuse in Iraq," he said.
"Blanket exemption is wrong. It is of dubious judicial value and I don't think it should be encouraged by the council."
Last resort
The BBC's Susannah Price at the United Nations says Washington has refused to ratify the 1998 Rome Treaty authorising the ICC, fearing that US soldiers could end up in show trials overseas.
But she says the 94 signatory countries point out that the court is only meant to be a measure of last resort - and that US troops could only be prosecuted if allegations were made against them in a signatory country, and US courts failed to take action themselves.
Our correspondent adds that the impression that the US was trying to remove itself from international accountability was what upset some UN members.
Even though US troops abroad may now be subject to prosecution at the court in The Hague, Washington has already signed bilateral agreements with 89 countries to ensure they do not bring cases against its personnel.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3834089.stm
The prisoner abuse scandal undermined support for the US
The US has given up trying to win its soldiers immunity from prosecution at the new International Criminal Court.
United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan had warned the Security Council not to renew the measure, partly because of the prisoner abuse scandal.
Washington withdrew its resolution after it became clear it would not get the required support.
For the last two years it had secured special status for US troops, arguing they could face malicious prosecutions.
"The United States has decided not to proceed further with consideration and action on the draft at this time in order to avoid a prolonged and divisive debate," said the US deputy ambassador to the UN James Cunningham.
Blanket exemption is wrong. It is of dubious judicial value and I don't think it should be encouraged by the council.
UN Secretary General Kofi Annan
"We are dropping action on this resolution."
In the past, the US has threatened to veto UN peacekeeping operations if its demands for exemption from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague were not met.
Mr Cunningham did not repeat the warning, but said the US would in future "need to take into account the risk of ICC review when determining contributions to UN authorised or established operations".
The US offered a compromise to the Security Council on Tuesday, asking it to renew the existing immunity for just one more year.
But it was not enough to gain the necessary support of nine out of the 15 council members.
Earlier this month Mr Annan said if the exemption - which expires on 30 June - were extended, it would discredit the UN's claim to represent the rule of law.
"For the past two years, I have spoken quite strongly against the exemption and I think it would be unfortunate for one to press for such an exemption, given the prisoner abuse in Iraq," he said.
"Blanket exemption is wrong. It is of dubious judicial value and I don't think it should be encouraged by the council."
Last resort
The BBC's Susannah Price at the United Nations says Washington has refused to ratify the 1998 Rome Treaty authorising the ICC, fearing that US soldiers could end up in show trials overseas.
But she says the 94 signatory countries point out that the court is only meant to be a measure of last resort - and that US troops could only be prosecuted if allegations were made against them in a signatory country, and US courts failed to take action themselves.
Our correspondent adds that the impression that the US was trying to remove itself from international accountability was what upset some UN members.
Even though US troops abroad may now be subject to prosecution at the court in The Hague, Washington has already signed bilateral agreements with 89 countries to ensure they do not bring cases against its personnel.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/americas/3834089.stm
