BRUSSELS, March 23 (UPI) -- A reporter says he was rebuffed by guards when he tried to place former British Prime Minister Tony Blair under a citizen's arrest for deaths in Iraq.
David Cronin approached Blair in Brussels Monday shortly before Blair was to meet with members of the European Union Parliament to discuss his work as a special envoy to the Middle East, the EUObserver reported Tuesday.
"You are guilty of war crimes," Cronin told Blair, putting his hand on Blair's arm. Blair flinched and his body guards pushed Cronin away but did not arrest him, the EUObserver reported.
Cronin, an Irish citizen with the Inter Press Service news agency, said Blair must be held accountable for his role in sending troops to invade Iraq.
Cronin said he was inspired by human rights activist Peter Thatchell, who tried, but failed, to place Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe under a citizen's arrest in London in 1999 and in Brussels in 2001.
In January, British anti-war protester Grace McCann tried, and failed, to arrest Blair following his testimony before a government panel investigating Britain's role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq.
