Responding to a damning report handed to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Saturday , British Foreign Secretary, William Hague, rejected the report’s bid to prosecute British politicians and senior military figures for alleged war crimes in Iraq.
Speaking to Sky News, Hague, said,
Phil Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), rejected Hague’s assertions, reiterating that the document submitted by PIL alleged that some at the highest levels were most responsible, including head of the Army Gen Sir Peter Wall and former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.
Rejecting Hague’s statement, Shiner, said,
He further outlined that the ICC had “no alternative other than to conduct an initial investigation into the 250 page complaint submitted by the PIL and European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR).
Speaking to Sky News, Hague, said,
“These allegations are either under investigation or have been dealt with in a variety of ways. There have been some cases of abuse that have been acknowledged and apologies and compensation have been paid appropriately. The government has always been clear and the armed forces have been clear that they absolutely reject allegations of systematic abuses by the British armed forces.”
Phil Shiner, of Public Interest Lawyers (PIL), rejected Hague’s assertions, reiterating that the document submitted by PIL alleged that some at the highest levels were most responsible, including head of the Army Gen Sir Peter Wall and former Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon.
Rejecting Hague’s statement, Shiner, said,
“We have no interest in this country in prosecuting those responsible and no interest at all in prosecuting those responsible in positions of chains of command.”
He further outlined that the ICC had “no alternative other than to conduct an initial investigation into the 250 page complaint submitted by the PIL and European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR).