December 25, 2002	Wednesday	Shawwal 20, 1423

NEW DELHI, Dec 24: India said on Tuesday it would sign an agreement with the United States not to extradite each other’s nationals to a world tribunal, in a victory for Washington’s efforts to scuttle the International Criminal Court.

A foreign ministry statement said a deal will be signed on Thursday between Foreign Secretary Kanwal Sibal and the US ambassador to India, Robert Blackwill.

The agreement will cover “the non-extradition of nationals of either country to any international tribunal without the other country’s express consent”, the statement said.

US President George Bush’s administration opposes the creation of an International Criminal Court (ICC), saying the tribunal could bring politically motivated charges against Americans, including civilian military contractors and former officials.

But the ICC enjoys support of many US allies, particularly in Europe, and is expected to go ahead with the election of 18 judges in February.

The United States has instead been trying to reach bilateral agreements under which countries will pledge not to extradite any US national to an international court.

With India, the United States has reached such agreements with at least 15 countries.—AFP