WASHINGTON POST: "U.S. DROPS DEMAND FOR WAR COURT IMMUNITY"

WASHINGTON, July 11 (Hina) - According to the Washington Post, the US administration has dropped its demand that US soldiers, serving within United Nations missions, be granted immunity from the recently established International Criminal Court (ICC). #L# "U.S. officials said they are seeking a temporary exemption from prosecution that would buy the United States time to negotiate bilateral accords and military agreements barring individual governments from surrendering U.S. nationals to the International Criminal Court," the paper read. The daily says the United States did not insist any more on its demand after last Wednesday many countries showed their strong opposition to Washington's request. "The Europeans dug in their heels and said you are undermining something that is fundamental to us," a council diplomat said. "The Americans blinked." "Britain's U.N. ambassador, Jeremy Greenstock, said the U.S. proposal provided a "very fair basis" for negotiations," read the daily. Until Monday, the UN Security Council should decide on the destiny of the UN mission in Bosnia-Herzegovina, which should be prolonged by the end of this year. A session of the Security Council is scheduled for Friday when it is to decide on a three-month-long prolongation of the mission of UN observers on the Croatian southernmost peninsula of Prevlaka. (hina) ms