May 18, 2003	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 15, 1424

BRUSSELS, May 17: Belgium will block a lawsuit filed here against the US commander in the Iraq war for alleged war crimes, including use of cluster bombs in civilian areas, a government official said Saturday.

Seventeen Iraqis and two Jordanians this month filed a suit against General Tommy Franks under Belgium’s “universal competence” law, which allows charges to be brought regardless of where the alleged crimes took place.

“The prime minister will call a special cabinet session next week enabling us to apply the new universal competence law and stop the suit against General Franks,” said an adviser to Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt.—AFP