Changes to Belgian War Crimes Law Get a Nod

BRUSSELS —  Belgium’s lower house of Parliament approved a revision of a war crimes law Tuesday, removing provisions that were used to file complaints against President Bush over the Iraq war.

Current law allows Belgium to prosecute war crimes suspects regardless of where the alleged offenses occurred or the nationality of those involved.

After the law was used to lodge complaints against Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair, U.S. officials protested strongly and threatened to move the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s headquarters out of Belgium unless the law was scrapped.

The Chamber of Representatives approved the measure, 89 to 3, paving the way for expected quick adoption by the Senate this week and then enactment.

The revision limits jurisdiction to cases involving Belgian citizens or residents as victims or suspects.

The revision also ensures full immunity for world leaders and officials who visit Belgium.

“There was American pressure, but there were also other pressure or friendly warnings from France and Germany “ said socialist Dirk Van der Maelen, deputy head of the Parliament’s foreign affairs committee.

Cases against Bush, Blair and Gen. Tommy Franks, the U.S. commander of the Iraq war, have already been rejected using earlier amendments to the law. So was a case against Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon.

But nearly 30 earlier cases against former and present leaders are still active, officials said.