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UN Defends Rwanda, Yugoslavia Tribunals VOA News 2 Mar 2002 05:09 UTC 
Officials at the United Nations have defended the work of international war crimes tribunals after criticism from the United States.
U.N. spokeswoman Marie Okabe says plans are already underway for the Rwanda and Yugoslavia tribunals to end their work by 2007. She says measures for speeding up the judicial process include adding judges and streamlining procedures.
U.S. ambassador-at-large for War Crimes Issues Pierre-Richard Prosper, this week, accused the tribunals of being costly, inefficient and too slow. He said the two tribunals should end their work by 2008.
Human rights groups say the criticism underscores U.S. concerns that these international tribunals could impinge on U.S. sovereignty.
The Bush administration has recently stated its opposition to the creation of a possible International Criminal Court on grounds it might prosecute U.S. soldiers.
Some information for this report provided by Reuters and AP.
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