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MPs poised to call for suspension of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia MPs poised to call for suspension of UK arms sales to Saudi Arabia
(about 1 hour later)
MPs on the UK’s influential, cross-party committee on arms export controls are poised to call for a suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but a group of mainly Tory MPs is likely to press for amendments to water down any criticism.MPs on the UK’s influential, cross-party committee on arms export controls are poised to call for a suspension of arms sales to Saudi Arabia, but a group of mainly Tory MPs is likely to press for amendments to water down any criticism.
The draft committee report said it seemed inevitable that breaches of international law by the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen had involved arms supplied by the UK, and that this would mean Britain was in violation of its own legal obligations.The draft committee report said it seemed inevitable that breaches of international law by the Saudi-led coalition fighting in Yemen had involved arms supplied by the UK, and that this would mean Britain was in violation of its own legal obligations.
In a written statement earlier this week, the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, sought to preempt the committee by asserting the UK would continue to export weapons to Saudi Arabia, claiming the “key test” of a serious risk of the breach of international humanitarian law had not been met.In a written statement earlier this week, the foreign secretary, Boris Johnson, sought to preempt the committee by asserting the UK would continue to export weapons to Saudi Arabia, claiming the “key test” of a serious risk of the breach of international humanitarian law had not been met.
The draft report says: “The weight of evidence of violations of international humanitarian law by the Saudi-led coalition is now so great, that it is very difficult to continue to support Saudi Arabia.” The draft report says: “The weight of evidence of violations of international humanitarian law by the Saudi-led coalition is now so great that it is very difficult to continue to support Saudi Arabia.”
The outcome of Wednesday’s vote will largely depend on who turns up at the meeting and whether a form of wording can be found to keep all sides on board. At least one Labour MP is sceptical of the case for an arms ban, but equally a Conservative MP on the committee, Helen Grant, has been angered by the evidence of hospitals and residential complex being bombed by the Saudi coalition.” The outcome of Wednesday’s vote will largely depend on who turns up at the meeting and whether a form of wording can be found to keep all sides on board. At least one Labour MP is sceptical of the case for an arms ban, but equally a Conservative MP on the committee, Helen Grant, has been angered by the evidence of hospitals and a residential complex being bombed by the Saudi coalition.
The government has argued that it operates one of the strictest arms licensing programmes in the world, and said it has received assurances from Riyadh that it operated within the boundaries of international humanitarian law.The government has argued that it operates one of the strictest arms licensing programmes in the world, and said it has received assurances from Riyadh that it operated within the boundaries of international humanitarian law.
An internal Saudi investigation published on 4 August into eight incidents in Yemen largely defended the bombing runs on the basis that the Saudis had received credible intelligence that enemy Houthi forces were in the area. In one case Riyadh offered compensation to the victims.An internal Saudi investigation published on 4 August into eight incidents in Yemen largely defended the bombing runs on the basis that the Saudis had received credible intelligence that enemy Houthi forces were in the area. In one case Riyadh offered compensation to the victims.
Following the report’s publication, airstrikes on 15 August killed 19 people and injured 24 when a raid hit a Yemeni hospital supported by Médecins Sans Frontières. It was the fourth attack on an MSF facility in Yemen in a year, and led to the MSF withdrawing from parts of Yemen. MSF said it it had shared the hospital’s GPS coordinates with all parties involved in the conflict. Following the report’s publication, airstrikes on 15 August killed 19 people and injured 24 when a raid hit a Yemeni hospital supported by Médecins Sans Frontières. It was the fourth attack on an MSF facility in Yemen in a year, and led to the MSF withdrawing from parts of Yemen. MSF said it had shared the hospital’s GPS coordinates with all parties involved in the conflict.
UK government ministers have said that the Saudis are learning how to conduct inquiries into bombing missions in which mistakes occurred, and that here is no evidence of a deliberate effort to bomb civilians indiscriminately. UK government ministers have said the Saudis are learning how to conduct inquiries into bombing missions in which mistakes occurred, and there is no evidence of a deliberate effort to bomb civilians indiscriminately.
But Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said: “When even the Saudis are investigating their own military actions, it is about time the arms control select committee put some backbone into our government and demanded a halt to arms sales to Saudi Arabia.But Tom Brake, the Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said: “When even the Saudis are investigating their own military actions, it is about time the arms control select committee put some backbone into our government and demanded a halt to arms sales to Saudi Arabia.
“With mounting evidence of widespread breaches of international humanitarian law, the UK is turning a blind eye at the peril of its international reputation as an upholder of human rights.”“With mounting evidence of widespread breaches of international humanitarian law, the UK is turning a blind eye at the peril of its international reputation as an upholder of human rights.”
The UN has criticised the Saudi-led coalition for strikes on weddings, markets, schools and hospitals that did not appear to qualify as military targets.The UN has criticised the Saudi-led coalition for strikes on weddings, markets, schools and hospitals that did not appear to qualify as military targets.
Since March 2015 Saudi Arabia, backed by its Sunni Arab allies, the US and Britain, have been launching airstrikes in neighbouring Yemen to reinstate the president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and counter advances by Houthi rebels. Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict.Since March 2015 Saudi Arabia, backed by its Sunni Arab allies, the US and Britain, have been launching airstrikes in neighbouring Yemen to reinstate the president, Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, and counter advances by Houthi rebels. Thousands of people have been killed in the conflict.
Houthi fighters, who belong to the Zaydi sect of Shia Islam, control the capital, Sana’a, and the western part of Yemen, and are allied with the former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who led the country from 1990 to 2012.Houthi fighters, who belong to the Zaydi sect of Shia Islam, control the capital, Sana’a, and the western part of Yemen, and are allied with the former president, Ali Abdullah Saleh, who led the country from 1990 to 2012.
Hadi is currently living in exile in Riyadh, and the Saudis regard the Houthis as proxies for Iran. Peace talks sponsored by Kuwait broke down in August.Hadi is currently living in exile in Riyadh, and the Saudis regard the Houthis as proxies for Iran. Peace talks sponsored by Kuwait broke down in August.