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| Britain |
| Britain to Seek Immunity for (Saudi) Torture |
| 2006-04-19 |
| The British government said Monday it plans to argue that Saudi officials accused of torturing Britons should be immune from lawsuits in British civil courts. Britain will back the Saudi position in a hearing before Britain's highest court next week in a case brought by four men who say they were tortured into confessing to involvement in a series of bombings in Riyadh, the Saudi capital. The infamous alk runners. The attacks in 2000-2001 killed an American and a Briton. In October 2004, Britain's Court of Appeal ruled that while the Saudi government is immune from prosecution, individuals who conducted torture could be sued. Britain will argue that the court erred in making that distinction, said Peter O'Connor, a spokesman for Britain's Department of Constitutional Affairs. "You can't come to the (United Kingdom) and sue a foreign state for actions that occurred in that state," O'Connor said. Justice officials said their involvement was purely intended to clarify the country's position in international law — and not to justify the actions of the Saudi government. "This isn't about supporting torture," he said. "We condemn torture." The case is expected to be heard April 26. |
| Posted by:ed |
| #1 But Americans... |
| Posted by: Jackal 2006-04-19 08:52 |