A lawsuit accusing the commander of US troops in Iraq, General Tommy Franks, of war crimes was filed in a Belgian court today.
The 19 plaintiffs filed the suit under Belgium's controversial "universal competence" law, which allows charges to be brought regardless of where the alleged crimes took place.
Their suit relates to about 20 alleged crimes during the Iraq war, including three cases in which US troops are accused of firing on ambulances, according to lawyer Ms Jan Fermon.
"General Franks is responsible as commander in chief for the way some of his men acted on the ground: for instant the use of cluster bombs on civilian areas is a war crime," he told reporters.
The plaintiffs comprise 17 Iraqis and two Jordanians - the widow and father of Mr Tareq Ayub, a Jordanian correspondent for Arabic satellite broadcaster Al-Jazeera, who was killed on April 8th when a US tank shell hit a Baghdad hotel.
The suit also names Marine Lieutenant-Colonel Brian MacCoy, who is accused of categorising the ambulances as "legitimate targets" because he suspected them of harbouring gunmen.
The "universal competence" law, in force since 1993, allows Belgian courts to rule on alleged crimes under international law, regardless of where they were committed, the nationality of the accused or the victims.It has drawn strong criticism from the United States, which has warned that Belgium's standing as an international hub is at risk.
Some 30 current or former political leaders are facing legal action under the law, including Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, Palestinian leader Mr Yasser Arafat, former US president Mr George Bush Snr and US Secretary of State Mr Colin Powell.
AFP