Vermont Petition Calls For Indictment Of Bush, Cheney For War Crimes

Brattleboro, VT (AHN) - Activists in Brattleboro, Vermont want President George Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney arrested for war crimes, a petition described as "radical" and "of very dubious legality."

In a petition before the selectboard which oversees the local government, the activists are petitioning to put an item on a town meeting agenda that would make Bush and Cheney subject to indictment if they visit the Vermont town, The Associated Press reported.

Except for Vermont, Bush has visited every state as president.

The petition is "of very dubious legality," said Vermont Attorney General William Sorrell, a Democrat who is often in conflict with the administration over environmental issues.

"This petition is as radical as the Declaration of Independence, and it draws on that tradition in claiming a universal jurisdiction when governments fail to do what they're supposed to do," said Kurt Daims, 54, who petitioned an annual town meeting in which residents gather to vote on everything from fire department budgets to municipal policy.

About 1,000 signatures are required to place a binding item on the agenda. Early this year Vermon's state senate voted to support impeaching the president.