Bush cancels Swiss visit amid concerns of arrest over torture allegations

WASHINGTON - Former US President George W Bush has cancelled his visit to Switzerland amid concerns that he could be arrested for allegedly ordering the torture of prisoners.

Bush was due to address a charity gala as a key speaker at Keren Hayesod’s annual dinner on February 12 in Geneva, Sky News reports.

Human Rights groups, however, have been building pressure on the Swiss Government to arrest him and open a criminal investigation against him if he enters the Alpine country.

Although court officials said criminal complaints have been lodged against Bush in Geneva, Swiss officials have said he would enjoy some diplomatic immunity as a former head of state, the report said.

Leftist groups had also called for a protest on the day of his visit next Saturday, leading Hayesod’s organizers to announce that they were cancelling Bush’s participation on security grounds, and not because of criminal complaints.

“We didn’t want to put people and property in Geneva at risk. The gala is maintained but George Bush will not take part. The criminal complaints did not weigh in the decision,” the group’s lawyer, Robert Equey, said. (ANI)