§ Lynne JonesTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs whether any Government has failed in its obligations to provide information it holds to the International Atomic Energy Agency about Saddam Hussein's regime's attempts to obtain uranium for Africa in the last five years. [123451]
§ Mr. MacShane[holding answer 3 July 2003]: We encouraged all states to share any information that they had with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
There is no requirement for the IAEA to inform us of who has, and who has not, provided information to them.
§ Mr. BestTo ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs how many mass grave sites have been discovered in Iraq since the start of the recent conflict; and what steps are being taken by the occupying powers to(a) protect and secure the sites, (b) identify the victims and (c) bring criminal charges against the perpetrators. [123689]
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§ Mr. RammellTo date 86 mass graves have been reported. Approximately 50 have been, or are currently, under investigation by coalition forces, who have been tasked with securing and protecting evidence of legacy crimes.
We have sent a team of nine UK forensic experts to Iraq to investigate legacy crimes and mass graves. We are currently studying their recommendations for a long-term strategy for dealing with forensically important sites in Iraq and for further UK assistance in this area.
We have always believed that those who have been responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes should be brought to justice. We believe it should be for the Iraqi people to decide how to bring those responsible to justice, with suitable international help.