Annan Challenges UN To Take On Bush

From the Guardian:

"Secretary-General Kofi Annan urged the U.N. Security Council on Thursday to stop shielding American peacekeepers from international prosecution for war crimes.

Annan cited the U.S. prisoner abuse scandal in Iraq in opposing a U.S. resolution calling for the blanket exemption for a third straight year.

The United States introduced the resolution last month but has delayed calling for a vote. Despite intensive lobbying, Washington doesn't have the minimum nine "yes'' votes on the 15-member council to approve a new exemption, council diplomats said.

The current exemption expires June 30...

'For the past two years, I have spoken quite strongly against the exemption, and I think it would be unfortunate for one to press for such an exemption, given the prisoner abuse in Iraq,' he told reporters Thursday.

'It would be even more unwise on the part of the Security Council to grant it. It would discredit the council and the United Nations that stands for rule of law and the primacy of rule of law,' Annan said. 'Blanket exemption is wrong. It is of dubious judicial value, and I don't think it should be encouraged by the council.'"