CASTRIES, St Lucia, CMC:

Prime Minister Stephenson King says St Lucia has decided to join a number of Caribbean Community states in signing a bi-lateral agreement with the United States that will exempt Americans from being tried by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

This agreement means that St Lucia would surrender US citizens accused of international crime to the US for trial, instead of bringing them before the ICC. America would do the same thing for St Lucians accused of crime in that country.

Prime Minister King told the Caribbean Media Corporation that after sitting with US authorities and discussing the matter he is satisfied that it is the right decision to sign the agreement.

"The reason why we are signing Article 98 is because we are satisfied with the understanding of the United States that signing the article does not give them the right to ask for the release of their people if the US citizen runs foul of the law or engages in criminal activity," he said.