Arab justice ministers conclude meeting

Arab justice ministers who concluded on Monday their 16th session failed to approve the statute of the International Criminal Court as participants were concerned that the court might turn into a tool in hands of super powers, reports Kuwaiti news agency KUNA.

The ministers decided to hold a special meeting later this month, with participation of representatives of Arab justice and foreign ministries, to discuss potential repercussions of the Arab states' endorsement of the charter of the international tribunal.

According to the source, the ministers held a closed-door session to ponder foreseen consequences of the Arab states' approval of the charter. They underlined the need to clarify the relationship between the court and the U.N. Security Council to ensure that the council would not dominate it.

The ministers decided to hold the next round of the council in November 2001 and the executive bureau in April 2001.