Friday, August 19, 2005
British RhetIraq: Families of Slain Soldiers
Who: 17 Families of Slain British Soldiers in Iraq
Source: Independent UK
Quotes: From article titled, " Families of British soldiers begin court bid to force war inquiry"
Families of British soldiers killed in Iraq are to go to the High Court today to demand an independent inquiry into the war.
Legal documents to be lodged at the court in London set out the case for a full independent inquiry into the legality of the war and the circumstances that led to the deaths of the soldiers. Lawyers for the families argue that under the Human Rights Act the Government has a duty to establish such an inquiry.
But ministers have refused the families' request, arguing that the war was legal. The families now intend to rely on the advice given by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, to ministers in the run-up to the conflict. The Attorney General's advice was leaked to the media during this year's general election campaign.
The families want the inquiry to cross-examine the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, the Defence Secretary at the time, Geoff Hoon, and the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw. They want the inquiry to establish why Lord Boyce, the former chief of defence staff, was given an unequivocal assurance that the war was legal.
The case is being supported by the Stop the War Coalition and Military Families Against the War.
Source: Independent UK
Quotes: From article titled, " Families of British soldiers begin court bid to force war inquiry"
Families of British soldiers killed in Iraq are to go to the High Court today to demand an independent inquiry into the war.
Legal documents to be lodged at the court in London set out the case for a full independent inquiry into the legality of the war and the circumstances that led to the deaths of the soldiers. Lawyers for the families argue that under the Human Rights Act the Government has a duty to establish such an inquiry.
But ministers have refused the families' request, arguing that the war was legal. The families now intend to rely on the advice given by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, to ministers in the run-up to the conflict. The Attorney General's advice was leaked to the media during this year's general election campaign.
The families want the inquiry to cross-examine the Prime Minister, the Attorney General, the Defence Secretary at the time, Geoff Hoon, and the Foreign Secretary, Jack Straw. They want the inquiry to establish why Lord Boyce, the former chief of defence staff, was given an unequivocal assurance that the war was legal.
The case is being supported by the Stop the War Coalition and Military Families Against the War.
