Cases Against U.S. Officials Dismissed
Belgium’s top court dismissed war crime cases against U.S. Secretary of State Colin L. Powell, Vice President Dick Cheney, former President Bush and Israeli Premier Ariel Sharon.
The move was expected to improve Belgium’s relations with the United States and Israel, which hit their lowest points in decades over the two countries’ complaints. The cases were based on a 1993 Belgian law allowing foreigners to file genocide and war crime complaints against foreign leaders.
Under international pressure, Parliament amended the law in August, allowing such complaints to be filed only if the victim or suspect was a Belgian citizen or long-term resident.
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