Australian PM denies court risk

By GREG ANSLEY

CANBERRA - The Australian Government has shrugged off suggestions that any of its citizens could be prosecuted for war crimes if the country joined a United States strike on Iraq without United Nations approval.

Prime Minister John Howard says an invasion would be legal under international law because of earlier UN resolutions on the disarming of Iraq.

Canberra has also limited its exposure to the International Criminal Court, inserting exemptions in its complementary national legislation before ratifying the court.

After a serious rift in conservative ranks over potential loss of Australian sovereignty, Canberra decreed that:

No one could be arrested or turned over to the ICC without the consent of the Attorney-General.

Genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes would be interpreted under Australian law.

Australian troops serving abroad would stay under Australian law.

Decisions of the Attorney-General could be contested only through the High Court, the highest arbiter of Australian law.