Written question asked by Tam Dalyell (Labour) on Thursday, 3 March 2005, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Tuesday, 15 March 2005. It was answered by Bill Rammell (Labour) on Tuesday, 15 March 2005 on behalf of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to the Iraqi administration that it makes it a condition sine qua non that there be a determination by the UN about the legality of the use of force against Iraq before any person is accused of having committed crimes in Iraq.

Answer: Mr. Dalyell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make representations to the Iraqi administration that it makes it a condition sine qua non that there be a determination by the UN about the legality of the use of force against Iraq before any person is accused of having committed crimes in Iraq. [220811] Mr. Rammell: As the Solicitor-General made clear in his written answer of 17 March 2003, Official Report, column 515W, authority to use force against Iraq derived from the combined effect of UNSCRs 678, 687 and 1441; and all of these resolutions were adopted under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, which allows the use of force for the express purpose of restoring international peace and security. We would therefore have no reason to make representations to the Iraqi Government about the legality of the use of force in Iraq.

Secondary information

Type: Written question
Reference: 432 c221W;432 c219W; 220811
Session: 2004-05
Subjects: Armed conflict Iraq Legal opinion Weapons UN resolutions Iraq conflict
Link: View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk