The U.S. envoy for war crimes says the U.S. will attend an annual meeting of the International Criminal Court, a body it has so far refused to participate in, AP reported. Stephen Rapp says the U.S. will for the first time be an observer at this year"s meeting of countries that have ratified the treaty setting up the Hague-based court. It is the first permanent global court set up to try individuals for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes when national courts are unable or unwilling to do so. The U.S. has declined to participate in the court though it was involved in negotiations leading to its formation. A main U.S. concern is that American servicemen hunting down terrorists abroad might not be safe from politically motivated prosecutions. -- SPA
