The International Criminal Court should investigate Britain and the United States for possible war crimes in Iraq, an international group of legal scholars has said at the United Nations.
Eight law professors from Ireland, Britain, France and Canada concluded that the coalition may have violated international law through its use of cluster bombs in urban areas, its attacks on journalists and its destruction of civilian infrastructure.
The court, however, has previously indicated that it does not have jurisdiction over events in Iraq, which had not ratified the 1998 treaty establishing the court.
Mr Phil Shiner, director of Peacerights, a human rights group based in Birmingham, that organised the study, presented the scholars' preliminary findings at a news conference. The full report is due out in February.
After hearing from witnesses and experts, the professors concluded that there was sufficient evidence "to investigate members of the UK government ... in relation to crimes against humanity and/or war crimes" in Iraq during the conflict or the occupation.
The lawyers who carried out the study include Prof William Schabas, professor of human rights law at the national University of Ireland, Prof Christine Chinkin, professor of international law at the London School of Economics, Prof Bill Bowring, professor of human rights and international law at London Metropolitan University, and Prof Reni Provost, associate professor at the faculty of law at McGill University in Canada.
Shiner said the professors believed that, if US actions in Iraq breached international law, Britain should be held responsible as well because it was a full partner in combat.
AP