To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions she has had with (a) the Government of Senegal and (b) her EU counterparts on the trial of the former president of Chad, Hissene Habre, and potential EU assistance in that trial. (125235)

The UK has regular consultations with EU colleagues on the progress of Hissene Habre’s trial, most recently in the Africa Working Group on 28 February. We will continue, with the EU, to discuss and review the development of the trial.

Our ambassador in Dakar made representations to the Government of Senegal in October 2006 to urge them to pass the required legislation to enable the trial of Hissene Habre to be held in Senegal with minimum delay. We welcome the passing of the necessary legislation by the Sengalese National Assembly on 31 January 2007 to permit a trial to take place in Senegal and urge the Government of Senegal to expedite the process.