Moroccan lawyers sue Israel minister for war crimes

RABAT, Aug 1 (Reuters) Three Moroccan lawyers are suing Israeli Defence Minister Amir Peretz for war crimes and crimes against humanity over the Israeli army's attacks on Lebanon and Gaza, they said today.

They said they filed the criminal suit with the royal prosecutor at the Rabat Appeal Court because Peretz, the head of Israel's left-of-centre Labour Party, was born in Morocco and has dual Israeli-Moroccan nationality.

The lawyers, Khalid Soufiani, Abderrahmane Ben Amrou and Abderrahim Jamaie, also accuse Peretz of premeditated crimes against civilians including women and children, unlawful use of arms and forming a criminal gang.

In Tel Aviv, an official at Peretz's office said the report was being checked but had no immediate comment.

Peretz was born as Armand Peretz in the Moroccan town of Boujad in 1952 and his family emigrated to Israel in 1956.

''International human rights groups say Israel's actions constitute crimes against humanity,'' said Soufiani. ''Moroccan law gives us the right to sue him ... We now hope the authorities will follow the letter of the law.'' Peretz said yesterday the Israeli army would expand and deepen its offensive against Hizbollah in Lebanon despite an international outcry over an air raid that killed at least 54 civilians at the weekend.

At least 617 people have been killed in Lebanon, most of them civilians. Fifty-one Israelis have been killed.

''These are not political charges,'' said Soufiani. ''This is a question of the rule of law ... Peretz has Moroccan nationality so he must stand trial.'' Reuters SBA GC2233