![]() |
UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs |
ZAMBIA: Agreement with US on ICC extradition
JOHANNESBURG, 18 July 2003 (IRIN) - Zambia this month signed a bilateral agreement with the United States not to extradite US citizens accused of war crimes to the International Criminal Court (ICC), a US embassy official told IRIN on Friday.
Zambia's decision to sign an "Article 98" exemption agreement under the Rome statute setting up the ICC means that US military aid can now be resumed. Zambia was among 35 countries punished by a US domestic law banning US military assistance to those who refused to conclude the treaty.
African countries that have reportedly not accepted an Article 98 agreement, or received waivers from the White House, are: Benin, Central African Republic, Lesotho, Malawi, Mali, Namibia, Niger, South Africa, and Tanzania.
The United States, under former president Bill Clinton, endorsed the Rome statute. However, the administration of President George W. Bush retracted the US signature in 2002, in fear that US soldiers or citizens could be subject to politically motivated prosecution through the ICC.
Theme(s): (IRIN) Conflict, (IRIN) Human Rights
[ENDS]
The material contained on this Web site comes to you via IRIN, a UN humanitarian information unit, but may not necessarily reflect the views of the United Nations or its agencies. If you re-print, copy, archive or re-post any item on this site, please retain this credit and disclaimer. Quotations or extracts should include attribution to the original sources. All graphics and Images on this site may not be re-produced without the express permission of the original owner. All materials copyright © UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs 2003
NEWSLETTER
|
Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|