Leading lawyers support air strikes on Afghanistan

Leading international lawyers this week backed the legality of the government's actions of carrying out air strikes on military targets in Afghanistan.Jeremy Carver, a litigation partner at Clifford Chance said: 'A strong case for self-defence has been made by the government under article 51 of the UN Charter.

A state is responsible for those things occurring within its borders and by sheltering bin Laden, Afghanistan shoulders responsibility for his actions.' Similar views were shared by Freshfield's partner, Malcolm Forster who said that under chapter VII of the Charter, force could be used to combat any threats to international peace and security.

'The security council has identified terrorism as such a threat,' he said.Alan Perry, a litigation partner at DJ Freeman said that if article 51 applied it would be important to ensure that the loss of civilian life, although expected, was not disproportionate to the military advantage gained.Andrew Towler