Belgium is repealing its controversial genocide law, under which war crimes and crimes against humanity committed anywhere in the world could be tried in a Belgian court.
The law caused a row with the United States after Belgian activists filed lawsuits against President George W Bush and US General Tommy Franks.
Under pressure from the United States, Belgian Prime Minister, Guy Verhofstadt had already announced he would ease the law. With the repeal of the law, war crimes and crimes against humanity will from now on fall under Belgium's normal criminal code, under which only Belgians can be tried.
Radio Netherlands 13 July 2003{'l'etat du monde, c'est moi!'}
