Zambia resists Amnesty Internationals’ call to arrest Bush

Zambia has dismissed an international rights group’s call for the arrest on torture charges of former President George W. Bush, who has been touring Africa to raise cancer awareness.

As Bush, his wife and daughters ended their visit to Zambia on Saturday, state media quoted Foreign Affairs Minister Chishimba Kambwili as saying only the International Criminal Court (ICC) could call for an international arrest.

Earlier in the week, Amnesty International said it had asked Tanzania, Zambia and Ethiopia to arrest Bush, “someone who has admitted to authorizing waterboarding.” As president, Bush authorized the interrogation technique that simulates drowning and is viewed as torture by many.

Bush is warmly remembered across Africa for funding AIDS treatment programs.

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