Father of slain American accuses Bush of war crimes
By Our Correspondent
WASHINGTON, June 6: The father of an American citizen beheaded in Iraq last month has said that he held the Bush administration responsible for the death of his son, Nick Berg.
Michael Berg spoke out against the administration's policies at a protest outside the White House this weekend, accusing President Bush and Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld of war crimes.
As thousands listened during a passion-filled and rain-soaked rally, Mr Berg said in a voice choking with emotions: "The men who killed my son should be arrested and subject to trial in a court of law, and if found guilty, never again be allowed to practice the brutality that cost my son his life."
He added: "But I ultimately hold the Bush administration responsible for my son's death." Mr Berg, who finds himself in a sudden media spotlight because of the brutal execution of his son, has used his higher profile to speak for peace and against the war in Iraq.
"I would do anything in the world to take back what happened to Nick," he said and added that since what had been done could not be undone, he would continue to strive for peace so that "other innocent people could be saved."
About 3,000 people had gathered outside the White House, ignoring incessant rain, to listen to Mr Beg and other speakers. The crowd cheered and chanted as Mr Berg urged President Bush to "bring the troops home now."
He spoke of the necessity for "nonviolent, direct action to stop the war," and told the audience that he had received hundreds of messages from soldiers of this war and ones before, backing the peace movement.
Referring to a historic speech by the American civil rights leader Martin Luther King, junior, Mr Berg said: "The people of America and the world have a dream and a vision now, too, and that dream is a dream of peace, a vision of all nations living together in harmony and love.
"Do not let what happened to my son and my family happen again. Stand up for peace now! ... Let's act now to stop war and end racism, and let's keep acting until we can raise a banner of peace that says, 'mission accomplished.'"
Mr Berg, a long-time peace activist, said his views differed from his son's when it came to politics and the Iraq war. "We long ago agreed to disagree, we respected each other for acting on our beliefs."
Mr Berg came to the rally wearing a brown polo shirt that belonged to his son. A way of keeping him close, he said. "I would like to ask (Mr Bush) if it is true that Al Qaeda offered to trade my son's life for the life of another person," said Mr Berg referring to a statement one of the executioners read while slaying his son.
In the statement the executioner said they were killing Nick Berg because the Bush administration refused to accept their demand. "If that is true, well, I need that information, and I think the people of the US need to know what the fate of their sons and daughters might be in the hands of the Bush administration," he said.
