US strikes ICC immunity deals with 4 more states

WASHINGTON: The White House announced on Thursday it was waiving a prohibition of military aid to Afghanistan, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Georgia and Honduras, which all have signed deals giving US citizens there immunity from prosecution by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

Washington vehemently opposes the ICC, the world’s first permanent tribunal for war crimes and crimes against humanity, because it fears the court could become a forum for politically motivated prosecutions of US citizens.

It has been on a worldwide campaign to sign immunity deals since the court came into existence in July 2002.

Under US law, Washington must suspend military assistance to most ICC member nations that have no such agreements. —AFP

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