US Defence Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says Belgium must not attempt to prosecute any senior US military figures under the country's controversial "genocide" law. He warned that the United States will refuse to help finance the construction of a new NATO headquarters in Brussels if Belgium does not come forward with guarantees soon. Washington is also threatening to boycott high-level NATO meetings.
The threats come in the wake of the recent charge filed in Belgium against the US supreme commander in the Gulf region, General Tommy Franks.
Radio Nehterlands 13 June 2003
