Belgian court decision on Sharon postponed

Updated: 12:06, Wednesday, 6 March 2002

A court in Belgium has postponed a decision on whether or not the authorities there have the right to prosecute the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, for alleged war crimes committed 20 years ago.

Ariel Sharon,Forced to resign Defence portfolio Ariel Sharon,Forced to resign Defence portfolio
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6.01 News: Susan Byrne reports on the deaths of at least seven Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers
6.01 News: Susan Byrne reports on the deaths of at least seven Palestinians and two Israeli soldiers
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6.01 News: Richard Crowley reports from the West Bank city of Ramallah on the increasing numbers of young Palestinians being drawn into the fighting, many of whom are prepared to sacrifice their lives
6.01 News: Richard Crowley reports from the West Bank city of Ramallah on the increasing numbers of young Palestinians being drawn into the fighting, many of whom are prepared to sacrifice their lives

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A court in Belgium has postponed a decision on whether or not the authorities there have the right to prosecute the Israeli Prime Minister, Ariel Sharon, for alleged war crimes committed 20 years ago. The next hearing will be held on 15 May.

The case is being pursued by a group of Palestinians under a law that allows such crimes to be tried in Belgium regardless of where they were committed. The plaintiffs accuse Mr Sharon, who was Israel's defence minister at the time, of responsibility for the massacre of hundreds of Palestinians by Israeli-backed militiamen in two refugee camps in Lebanon.

Sharon was forced to resign his portfolio after an Israeli inquiry found he was "indirectly responsible" for the massacres. He was elected Prime Minister last year, replacing Ehud Barak.

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