{UAH} High Court blocks bid to prosecute Tony Blair over Iraq War

High Court blocks bid to prosecute Tony Blair over Iraq War

Lord Chief Justice says there is 'no prospect' of the case succeeding

• Samuel Osborne
• @SamuelOsborne93
• 3 hours ago
• 280 comments

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The Independent Online

The Iraqi general accused Tony Blair of committing a 'crime of aggression' by invading Iraq in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein Charles McQuillan/Getty Images

The High Court has blocked a bid by a former chief of staff of the Iraqi army to bring a private prosecution against Tony Blair over the Iraq War.

General Abdul Wahed Shannan Al Rabbat has accused Mr Blair of committing a "crime of aggression" by invading Iraq in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, the Lord Chief Justice, and Mr Justice Ouseley dismissed the general's application, saying there was "no prospect" of the case succeeding.

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He lives in Muscat, Oman, does not possess a passport and travel to the UK.

His lawyers asked London's High Court for permission to seek judicial review in an attempt to get the Supreme Court, now the highest court in the land, to overturn a ruling by the House of Lords in 2006 that there is no such crime as the crime of aggression under the law of England and Wales.

Westminster Magistrates Court refused to issue summonses in November last year on the grounds the ex-ministers had immunity from legal action, and in any event the current Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC, would have to give consent.

The Attorney General intervened in the case and his legal team urged Lord Thomas and Mr Justice Ouseley to block the general's legal challenge on the grounds that it was "hopeless" and unarguable because the crime of aggression is not recognised in English law.

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