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JUNE 28, 2001

The United Nations International Court of Justice on Wednesday found that the United States broke an international treaty in a case where two German brothers were executed.

In a 14-1 decision, the court said the US violated the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 because authorities in Arizona did not tell the brothers they could contact the German consulate after being arrested. The men were convicted of killing a man in 1982.

The ruling technically applies only to the rights of German nationals but legal scholars say it might have a broader effect under international law.

Get the Story:
World Court Rebukes U.S. Over Execution of Germans (The Washington Post 6/28)

Relevant Links:
International Court of Justice - http://www.icj-cij.org

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