HC Deb 01 February 1991 vol 184 c688W
Mr. Dalyell

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what information he has on the areas of Iraq that are sufficiently far from military action to constitute safe areas for prisoners of war under article 14 of the Geneva convention.

Mr. Archie Hamilton

The targets being attacked by the coalition are sites which could pose a threat to allied forces or facilities supporting Iraq's occupation of Kuwait. Article 23 of the third Geneva convention states that no prisoner of war may at any time be sent to, or detained in areas where he may be exposed to the fire of the combat zone, nor may his presence be used to render certain points or areas immune from military operations. Iraq has not yet provided any information to the International Committee of the Red Cross on the personnel being held or their location, nor permitted the ICRC to satisfy itself that they are being held in accordance with Iraq's obligations.

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