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The British government will suspend the award to Saudi Arabia of new arms sales contracts that can be used in Yemen. A decision of the London Court of Appeal that calls on the government to " reconsider " its practices in this area.
With our correspondent in London, Muriel Delcroix
The decision of the London Court of Appeal comes after a long battle started in 2015 by an organization that militates against the arms trade and wanted to force the British government to suspend its sales of bombs and fighter jets in Riyadh.
Saudi Arabia has been militarily involved in Yemen for four years in a bloody civil war. According to the NGO, the United Kingdom has committed " serious and repeated violations " of international humanitarian law by providing weapons to the fighting coalition in Yemen.
The London Court of Appeal ruled that the sale of arms had been tainted with " mistake of law " in the context of the war and asked London to reconsider the issue.
► See also: Sale of weapons in Riyadh: the embargo decided by Berlin hinders the allies
Through the voice of International Trade Minister Liam Fox, the government has not concealed its frustration clearly disagreeing with the ruling and announcing its intention to appeal.
Meanwhile, London has no choice but to suspend the award of new arms sales contracts to Riyadh, although licenses already granted will continue.
But for the NGO that was pursuing London, this ruling is historic and should push the government to review all the decisions to export arms to Saudi Arabia.
US Senate blocks arms sale to Saudi Arabia
In the United States, a decision that goes in the same direction came a few hours before that of London: the Senate blocked a sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. Weapons also destined for other Arab countries and which had been authorized by Donald Trump, is the sign of distrust vis avis of the policy of the president favorable to Riyadh.
RFI