US and Britain condemned over 'Geneva Convention breach'

national | miscellaneous | news report Wednesday March 26, 2003 12:51 by Adolf RuMsfield

Amnesty International has condemned the US and Britain for targeting civilian buildings in air strikes.

Although the coalition forces state they are hitting Saddam Hussein's regime command centres, the human rights body says the bombing of the Iraqi television channel could be a breach of the Geneva Conventions.

Tomahawk cruise missiles and bombs slammed into the headquarters of Iraqi state television as the allies sought to sever the link between Saddam and the population.

"The bombing of a television station, simply because it is being used for the purposes of propaganda, cannot be condoned," Amnesty International said.

"It is a civilian object, and thus protected under international humanitarian law."

But a US spokesman insisted: "These targets are key regime command and control assets."

After the pre-dawn air strikes on the Iraqi capital, monitors in London could no longer see the international 24-hour Iraqi Satellite TV. Domestic Iraqi TV, which does not broadcast at night, reportedly came back on air at about 0600 GMT. State radio was still broadcasting.

Thomas Mcinerney, a former US Air Force General, told an audience at the Council on Foreign Relations on Tuesday there are "pluses and minuses" of such a TV station continuing to operate.

Leaving the station unaffected would allow the Pentagon to broadcast its own propaganda if and when Baghdad falls. And the battle to win the hearts and minds of Iraqis depends on not destroying the civilian infrastructure