China Will Not Back U.S. on Immunity from New Court [View All]

http://www.reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=5460732

UNITED NATIONS (Reuters) - China said on Friday it would abstain on a resolution giving the United States immunity from the new International Criminal Court, a decision that may leave Washington short of votes to pass the resolution.

"I said to my colleagues we will abstain," Beijing's U.N. ambassador, Wang Guangya, told Reuters after a luncheon among the 15 Security Council members and U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Wang said earlier the resolution would send a wrong signal in light of the Iraqi prisoner abuse scandal.

China's abstention could deprive the Bush administration of the nine "yes" votes required to adopt a resolution. So far only Britain, Russia, Angola and the Philippines are considered sure votes in favor.

All other members are contemplating an abstention or are undecided, following a rebuke by U.N. Secretary- General Kofi Annan, who said on Thursday the resolution was "wrong," would "discredit the council" and was of "dubious judicial value."

He said that resolution "would be a very unfortunate signal to send at any time -- but particularly at this time."

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