Gordon Brown to stop courts issuing arrest warrants for foreign officials

The move follows an outcry over a series of attempts to detain high-profile figures during trips to London, including Tzipi Livni, the former Israeli foreign minister.

Under the proposals, the Crown Prosecution Service will take over responsibility for prosecuting war crimes and other violations of international law.

It will end the current system in which magistrates are obliged to consider a case for an arrest warrant presented by any individual.

Writing for the The Daily Telegraph, Gordon Brown says he will set out proposals to put the CPS in sole charge of judging the merits of any case brought under international law.

Labour MPs have been told the changes will be set out to the Justice Select Committee today and the government will legislate after consultation.

Senior Israeli officials had spearheaded the protests, expressing disappointment that Britain allowed private individuals to use its courts to allege war crimes and other human rights violations.

Mrs Livni, who is currently leader of the opposition, was forced to cancel a trip earlier this year after discovering a pro-Palestinian group had secured an arrest warrant for alleged crimes committed during last year's military operation in Gaza.

She hailed the change but said the government had moved too late to prevent damage to Britain's international reputation.

"The current situation in the UK enables the more cynical elements to take advantage of the system. The warrant that was issued against me according to the legislation was an absurd use of this law," she said.

"A change in the law is necessary and should have been made before, not for Israel but for the UK and any other country in the world that fights terrorism – the same terrorism that prevents us from achieving peace."

Israeli officials said the development had damaged British influence in the Middle East by hampering official visits to consult on the peace process.

Mr Brown said the introduction of the right to prosecute international crimes in Britain had been right and necessary but that the process had been abused by activists.

~ more... ~