Iraqi civilians are preparing to take US commander Gen. Tommy Franks to court in Belgium, accusing him and other US military officials of war crimes in Iraq, it was reported Monday.
The complaint will say US-British forces are responsible for the indiscriminate killing of Iraqi civilians, the bombing of a Baghdad market, the shooting of an ambulance and the failure to stop hospitals being looted, said Jan Fermon, a Brussels-based lawyer.
He is representing some 10 Iraqis who say they were victims of or eyewitnesses to atrocities committed during Operation Iraqi Freedom, The Washington Times said.
Fermon said the complaint will ask an investigative magistrate to look into whether indictments should be issued against Gen Franks. If an indictment is filed against the general and other US officials, they could be convicted and sentenced by a Belgian court.
“Belgium could issue international arrest warrants, but I don’t think we will get to that point,” he told the newspaper. (Albawaba.com)
