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Senate vetoes US participation in new international court

Notwithstanding repeated assertions that the Taliban spiritual leader Mullah Mohammed Omar and Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden would be brought to justice, the United States Senate shot down a proposal for the country's participation in a new international court.

The opponents of the proposal said the court could be used to stage politically motivated trial of US government officials and troops.

The proposal not to participate in the new international court, introduced by Republican Jesse Helms, was supported by 78 senators and opposed by 21.

Helms said his amendment, backed by veterans and other military groups, would 'protect US soldiers and their civilian leaders from an unaccountable kangaroo court'.

The new court, to be established as a permanent body at The Hague, Netherlands, was created by a 1998 treaty that President Bill Clinton signed, but which the Senate had not ratified.

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