BRITISH HOSTAGES HELD BY IRAQ

Early day motion 222, tabled 27 November 2002 by Ann Clwyd (Labour). Signed by 207 members.

That this House recognises the suffering and continuing trauma experienced by the thousands of British subjects who were taken hostage by the Iraqi regime in 1990; remembers that the Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein and former Foreign Minister Tariq Aziz, among others, explicitly stated that these hostages were being held to prevent Her Majesty's Government from acting to liberate Kuwait; notes that such acts are contrary to the Geneva conventions and violate the Taking of Hostages Act 1982; believes that the perpetrators of these crimes should have been brought to justice by the international community; and urges the Attorney General to act upon the evidence presented to him by the Indict organisation within the powers available to him.

Signatures by party: Labour 120, Conservative 38, Liberal Democrat 21, Labour/Co-operative 16, Scottish National Party 5, Plaid Cymru 3, UUP 3, Independent Conservative 1.