U.S. LAW ASSAILED AS RISK TO TERROR FIGHT

Mexico City - Global efforts to combat terrorism and drug trafficking will
be curtailed under a new U.S. law that suspends foreign aid to nations that
won't back Washington's stance on an international court, legal and human
rights groups said yesterday.

Under a provision in a sweeping spending law signed Wednesday by President
George W. Bush, Washington will freeze aid to nations that don't sign pacts
with Washington exempting U.S. nationals from prosecution before the
International Criminal Court in the Netherlands.

Between eight and 50 nations will be disqualified from receiving money
under the U.S. government's Economic Support Fund, which helps U.S. allies
promote democracy and combat terrorism, drug trafficking and internal
conflicts.

Court supporters slammed the new measure as a bullying tactic that would
curtail programs that help Washington's interests while alienating valuable
allies. Human Rights Watch also called U.S. opposition to the court
hypocritical in light of reported U.S. abuse of detainees in Iraq and
Guantanamo Bay.

"This latest sanction shows that the president would rather allow drug
trafficking and terrorism than support the prosecution of war crimes and
atrocities," said Brian Thompson of Citizens for Global Solutions in
Washington.

The International Criminal Court, which opened two years ago and boasts 100
member nations, is the first permanent world tribunal to judge genocide,
war crimes and crimes against humanity. Bush opposes the court on grounds
that U.S. citizens could be subjected to politically motivated charges.
Supporters including the European Union counter that the tribunal has
numerous safeguards against frivolous prosecution.

Officials from Peru and Trinidad and Tobago, two countries targeted for aid
freezes, said their governments would continue refusing to sign agreements
shielding U.S. nationals from the court but declined to comment immediately
on the cuts.

The measure would withhold $250 million for economic and social development
in Jordan, but Bush can waive the freeze for that key U.S. ally.

Ecuador, Paraguay, Bolivia, Peru and Venezuela stand to lose $32.5 million
for promoting democracy and free trade, and fighting drug trafficking and
corruption. Caribbean nations could lose all or some of $9 million for
fighting the flow of illegal drugs and undocumented immigrants - including
potential terrorists - to the United States.

Legal experts fear Ireland could lose $12 million for a visa program and
Northern Ireland peace initiatives.