Belgium throws out law on war crimes

BELGIUM Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt took office as head of a new centre-left government that immediately agreed to replace a war crimes law which has soured Belgium’s relations with the US.

In their first major decision after being sworn in by King Albert II, the 15 government ministers agreed to supplant the 1993 law which has been used to target leaders from the US, Britain, Israel and other countries.

“Changing the universal competence law is a priority of this government,” Mr Verhofstadt said.