By AFPMore by this AuthorLONDON, UNITED KINGDOMBritain on Tuesday announced plans to allow its soldiers to opt out of European human rights law, in a move Prime Minister Theresa May said would end "the industry of vexatious claims" against troops. Under the new proposal the British government said it would allow soldiers to sidestep the European Convention on Human Rights during times of conflict, depending on an assessment of the circumstances. In their announcement the government said despite the opt-out from European legislation, soldiers would continue to abide by the Geneva Conventions. Britain set up the Iraq Historic Allegations Team (IHAT) to investigate allegations by Iraqi civilians of abuse by British soldiers between the US-led invasion in 2003 and 2009 when British combat troops left. A total of 326 cases have been settled, with compensation payments totalling 20 million pounds ($26 million, 23 million euros).

Source: Daily Nation October 04, 2016 03:30 UTC