Iraqi actions in Kuwait warrant war crimes tribunal, U.S. says

David Sheffer, U.S. war crimes envoy, says the United States is "working hard to bring Saddam Hussein to justice"

In this story: U.S. supports 'change in regime' Rape, torture alleged RELATED STORIES, SITES

By CNN.com Senior Writer KC Wildmoon

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- U.S. war crimes envoy David Sheffer said Wednesday that evidence of alleged atrocities committed by Iraq during its seven-month occupation of Kuwait a decade ago warrants an investigation by an international war crimes tribunal.

VIDEO CNN White House Correspondent Kelly Wallace explains why U.S. relations with Iraq may remain difficult Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media) CNN's Nic Robertson learns that old wounds are slow to heal Play video (QuickTime, Real or Windows Media)     AUDIO U.S. war crimes envoy David Sheffer describes alleged atrocities commited by the Iraqis against Kuwait 479K/44 sec. AIFF or WAV sound U.S. war crimes envoy David Sheffer describes alleged war crimes commited by the Iraqis against Kuwait 391K/36 sec. AIFF or WAV sound U.S. Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs C. David Welch accuses Iraq President Saddam Hussein of manipulating the suffering of his people to get U.N. sanctions removed 254K/23 sec. AIFF or WAV sound U.S. Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs C. David Welch claims the U.N. "oil for food" program is working and helping to ease Iraqi suffering 418K/39 sec. AIFF or WAV sound     ALSO Anniversary of Iraqi invasion finds Kuwait free, its neighbor 'contained'     MESSAGE BOARDS  The U.S. military  Situation in Iraq

Sheffer announced the release of several previously classified Iraqi documents collected after the 1990-1991 Gulf War that pushed Iraqi forces back across their border out of Kuwait.

Those documents included orders to break into the homes of Kuwaiti civilians and burn them if the occupants were uncooperative, and instructions for destroying Kuwait's lucrative oil fields.

"We are working hard to bring (Iraqi leader) Saddam Hussein to justice," Sheffer said at a news conference in Washington. "We believe the evidence justifies an international tribunal."

"We'd like to see this accomplished ... the launching of official investigations that can lead to indictments ... hopefully in the next half year or so," he added.

Sheffer made the announcement on the 10th anniversary of Iraq's invasion of Kuwait.

U.S. supports 'change in regime'

At the same news conference, C. David Welch, U.S. assistant secretary for International Organization Affairs, reiterated the American commitment to see a "change in regime" in Iraq.

"It's not over because Iraq has not given up its weapons of mass destruction" as required by U.N. resolutions, he said.

Welch also noted that opposition to Hussein's government has a "number of different parts" inside Iraq, including an armed resistance, and that the United States was providing assistance, including training and resources.

But, he said, "we are conscious of being prudent."

"There is a big Iraqi opposition inside," Welch said. "It has no shortage of military resources. But compared to what is, even after losing two wars, one of the largest armies in the Middle East, even the armed opposition inside Iraq has a hard time."

Responding to criticism that U.N. sanctions against Iraq have put an undue hardship on the Iraqi people, Welch said that the U.N. "oil for food" program was reaching people "where not interfered with" by Hussein.

Rape, torture alleged

Sheffer summarized evidence collected in the decade since the invasion and occupation, including rape, torture and the use of Kuwaiti civilians as human shields during the Gulf War.

Prisoners of war were mistreated, Sheffer said, and looting was rampant. Some 600 Kuwaitis, he added, are still missing.

Worst of all, the envoy said, was the destruction of Kuwait's economically vital oil fields as the Iraqi troops retreated.

"Saddam ordered his forces to destroy or release into the (Persian) gulf millions of barrels of oil during the retreat," he said. "If ever there was a case of gross violation of military necessity, it is the oil fields of Kuwait."

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