Former US President George W. Bush, under fire from human rights group over allegations of ordering torture, has cancelled a visit to Switzerland where he was to address a Jewish charity gala. Bush was to be the keynote speaker at Keren Hayesod's annual dinner on February 12 in Geneva. But pressure has been building on the Swiss government to arrest him and open a criminal investigation if he enters the Alpine country.
Criminal complaints against Bush alleging torture have been lodged in Geneva, court officials say, and several human rights groups signalled that they were poised to take further legal action this week. Swiss officials have said that Bush would still enjoy a certain diplomatic immunity as a former head of state. Leftist groups had also called for a protest on the day of his visit.
Keren Hayesod organisers felt the atmosphere had become too threatening because the protests raised the spectre of riots that erupted in the Swiss city during the G8 summit in nearby Evian, the group's lawyer, Robert Equey, told a Swiss daily. "We didn't want to put people and property in Geneva at risk. The gala is maintained but George Bush will not take part," Equey told the Tribune de Geneve. "The (criminal) complaints did not weigh in the decision."
Geneva's chief prosecutor, Daniel Zappelli, has received criminal complaints about torture related to Bush, a court spokesman said. "We received a certain number of complaints. We will make no further comment," Christophe Tournier told Reuters. Torture is a crime under international law and human rights experts say the absolute prohibition is very clear.