Belgium to replace war crimes law

? Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt took office as head of a new center-left government Saturday and immediately agreed to replace a war crimes law that has soured Belgium’s relations with the United States.

Verhofstadt went directly from a swearing-in ceremony at King Albert II’s royal palace to a meeting of 15 ministers during which they decided to supplant the 1993 law, which has been used to target leaders from the United States, Britain, Israel and other nations.

Under a bill expected to clear parliament in coming weeks, only war crimes cases with a direct link to Belgium will be considered, ruling out complaints like those filed after the Iraq war against British Prime Minister Tony Blair and leading American officials, including President Bush.

Verhofstadt had promised to change the law after the Bush administration reacted angrily to such cases and threatened Brussels’ role as NATO headquarters. He pledged Saturday to make the change a “priority” of the new government.

Emerging from the meeting, Verhofstadt said abuse of the law for political ends would no longer be tolerated. However, he added that cases where the victim or suspect were Belgian citizens or residents would stand.

The existing law allows Belgian courts to hear war crimes complaints regardless of where the events occurred or the nationality of those involved.

Verhofstadt said he hoped the revised law would resolve the issue.