Former U.S. President George W. Bush has cancelled a visit to Switzerland over fears he could have been arrested on torture charges. Mr Bush was due to be the keynote speaker at a Jewish charity gala in Geneva on February 12. But pressure has been building on the Swiss government to arrest him and open a criminal investigation if he enters the country. Criminal complaints against Mr Bush alleging torture have been lodged in Geneva, court officials said. Human rights groups said they had intended to submit a 2,500-page case against him in the Swiss city tomorrow for alleged mistreatment of suspected militants at Guantanamo Bay. Left-wing groups have also called for a protest on the day of his visit, leading organisers at Keren Hayesods annual dinner to cancel Mr Bushs participation on security grounds. The New York-based Human Rights Watch and International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) said the cancellation was linked to growing moves told him accountable for the use of torture, including waterboarding. He had admitted in his memoirs and TV interviews to ordering the use of the interrogation technique which simulates drowning. Reed Brody, a lawyer for Human Rights Watch, said: Hes avoiding the handcuffs. Read more: dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1354211/George-W-Bush-cancels-Switzerland-visit-fears-arrest-torture-charges.html#ixzz3LxSrRVaM Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 09:46:51 +0000