Full news below. The prospect is not as fanciful as it seems. The International Criminal Court Bill, currently before Parliament, makes it an offence under domestic law for a British national to commit genocide, a crime against humanity, or a war crime.
War crimes have a broad definition in the international treaty setting out the court's jurisdiction.
Last Friday's raids by British and United States warplanes were aimed at military command centres south of Baghdad, and there were few civilian casualities reported. Earlier conflicts may be less clear cut. Michael Caplan, Gen Pinochet's former solicitor, asked last week what defence Tony Blair would have if he were charged with bombing targets in Kosovo in the knowledge that civilians might be killed. As far as the ICC is concerned, the Prime Minister need have no fears. The new court will have no jurisdiction over crimes committed before it comes into existence, and that will not be until 60 states have ratified the 1998 treaty.