Gen. Tommy Franks to face Iraq warcrimes case

Belgium -- A group of Iraqis will file a war crimes case against U.S. Gen. Tommy Franks, commander of American-led forces in Iraq, their lawyer in Belgium said Tuesday.

Jan Fermon told The Associated Press the claim would specifically name Franks and other unspecified U.S. troops who allegedly committed various war crimes across Iraq.

"There are 19 victims of the war so far that have come forward to back the case," he told AP.

The case will be made under a controversial 1993 Belgian war crimes law, which allowed universal reach in war crimes until it was amended early this month.

The amended "genocide law" still allows Belgium to refer foreigners to their own governments for alleged war crimes.

Fermon said he was confident that his claim, to be filed on May 13, would be accepted under the new rules.

Once filed, an investigating magistrate in Brussels will have to study the allegations to see whether there is a case against Franks and others.

Alleged atrocities in the case include the failure of U.S. troops to prevent the looting of hospitals in Baghdad after the fall of Saddam Hussein.

On Monday, U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said in Washington that the administration of George W. Bush was concerned about the new case.

"We believe the Belgian government needs to be diligent in taking steps to prevent abuse of the legal system for political ends," Boucher said.

Evidence to support the claim, including video footage and interviews, were gathered by two Belgian doctors stationed in Baghdad during the war. Both returned to Brussels last week.

About 30 genocide cases have been lodged in Belgium against former and present leaders.