The British High Court has blocked a bid by a former chief of staff of the Iraqi army to bring a private prosecution against Tony Blair over the Iraq War.
General Abdul Wahed Shannan Al Rabbat has accused Blair of committing a "crime of aggression" by invading Iraq in 2003 to overthrow Saddam Hussein, the Independent reports.
Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd, the Lord Chief Justice, and Justice Ouseley dismissed the general's application, saying there was "no prospect" of the case succeeding.
The general wanted to prosecute Blair and two other key ministers at the time - Jack Straw, the Foreign Secretary, and Lord Goldsmith, the Attorney General.
Westminster Magistrates Court refused to issue summonses in November last year on the grounds the ex-ministers had immunity from legal action, and in any event the current Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC (Queen's Counsel), would have to give consent.
The Attorney General intervened in the case and his legal team urged Lord Thomas and Justice Ouseley to block the general's legal challenge on the grounds that it was "hopeless" and unarguable because the crime of aggression is not recognised in English law.
The UK was part of a US-led coalition which invaded Iraq after George W Bush and Blair accused Hussein of possessing weapons of mass destruction and having links to terrorists.
Michael Mansfield QC, appearing for General Al Rabbat, said at a recent hearing the inquiry into the invasion conducted by Sir John Chilcot, which concluded with a report published in July last year, justified the prosecution of Blair.
Mansfield said the main findings were contained in a paragraph early in the 12-volume report and could be summarised as concluding that Hussein did not pose an urgent threat to the interests of the UK, and the intelligence regarding weapons of mass destruction had been presented with "unwarranted certainty".
It also concluded peaceful alternatives to war had not been exhausted and the war in Iraq was not necessary.
