The US has suspended military aid to South Africa,
according to the South African news agency, Sapa.
This follows a decision by the South African Government not
to grant Americans immunity from prosecution by the
International Criminal Court (ICC) in the Hague.

Other African countries affected include Niger, Mali and
Benin.

Under a US law passed last year, military aid will be cut
off from any state which failed to exempt American soldiers
from ICC prosecution by 1 July.

The Bush administration is opposed to the new United
Nations institution because it fears US personnel could be
targeted for political reasons.


It is nothing to worry about
Henry Boshoss, South African Institute of Security Studies

The United States has suspended over $47m in military aid
to 35 countries around the world.
But Mr Bush could grant waivers if it is in the national
interest.


'Insignificant'

The US gives South Africa about $1m in military aid
annually, according to the Pretoria-based South African
Institute of Security Studies (SAISS).

"The decision is insignificant; it is nothing to worry
about," Henry Boshoss of the SAISS told BBC News Online.

The announcement by the US State Department in Washington
comes exactly a week before President George Bush's visit
to South Africa.

President Bush, accompanied by his Secretary of State Colin
Powell, is due to arrive in South Africa on 8 July for a
two-day visit.


Immunity deals

South Africa is the only one of the five countries on the
Mr Bush's itinerary to be blacklisted.

The other African countries to be visited by President Bush
- Botswana, Uganda, Senegal and Nigeria - all retained
military funding by signing immunity deals with the US.

The South African Foreign Ministry spokesman Ronnie Mamoepa
said the government was still studying the announcement.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/africa/3037678.stm

Published: 2003/07/02 11:57:04 GMT

© BBC MMIII

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