Hawking brands 100,000 deaths in Iraq a war crime

RENOWNED scientist Stephen Hawking has said the deaths of more than 100,000 people in Iraq amounts to a war crime.

Professor Hawking made his condemnation at a special event in London yesterday to remember those who have died since the war began last year. In a rare political sortie, Prof Hawking told the crowd in Trafalgar Square: "The war was based on two lies. The first was we were in danger of weapons of mass destruction, and the second was that Iraq was somehow to blame for 11 September.

"As many as 100,000 people have died, half of them women and children. If that is not a war crime, what is?"

Prof Hawking was among a number of celebrities and politicians to read a list of names of those who have died in Iraq. Similar readings were held in 28 cities around the world, in Europe, Australia and America, and Iraq itself.