The Kuala Lumpur War Crimes Tribunal, led by former premier and statesman Dr Mahathir Mohamad, has won the support of several international personalities.

These are the views of speakers interviewed on the sidelines of the 'Expose War Crimes - Criminalise War' conference organised by Mahathir's Perdana Global Peace Organisation.

Dr Gwynne Dyer, freelance journalist, columnist, broadcaster and lecturer on international affairs

Most of these events that I have attended before are like, 'We have series of speakers and they will all say it's bad and people agree that such and such is bad'. Then they shake hands and leave and nothing actually gets done.

But this one is different. There is a certain potential action attached after the conference. This perhaps has to do with the fact Dr Mahathir is a politician.

These kind of conferences are normally academic, activist and theoretical - nothing ever happens. Dr Mahathir wants a tribunal to come out of it and he understands the use of the tribunal.

I've actually stopped attending such conferences because I know it's all just talk. I decided to come for this one because I know it's different.

Dr Christopher Busby, scientific secretary to the European Committee on Radiation Risk

I think this is an extraordinary brave venture and I totally support it. I am proud to be associated with it.

Dr Mahathir fills me with admiration. It's like the (children's fable) 'Emperor's New Clothes' where we accept the lies (that war is legitimate) even though we know they're wrong. Then the little child points out that the emperor is naked, for all the people to realise the lie.

Dr Mahathir will be here to point out that war is wrong and it's unacceptable. It's time to change the cultural concept, just as slavery was once considered normal behaviour.

Now we have a culture of concern for the environment and animals, now people say it's very wrong (to abuse the environment). So here we are to say war is wrong.

Hana Bayaty, writer and chief editor of Al-Ahram Weekly in Iraq and executive committee member for Brussels War Crimes Tribunal

It's a very necessary tribunal. The international institutions have failed to take responsibility and they have failed humanity.

We the people should find ways to readjust this failure. This tribunal is part of an (attitude) that the people are uncompromising on this.

We all want to set higher standards. Anti-war conferences let people who are dedicated to this cause to get together and network.

What is important is to create a parallel way of communication in broadening the network of people researching to counter the propaganda.

I hope it will create real forms because there are thousands of people already working on this. It is already visible.

Dr Leuren Moret, geoscientist and radiation specialist

Oh, I am all for it! I think it is wonderful and I'm glad to be a part of it because in this tribunal the victims and not citizens are asking us to convene (it) for them.

There are experiences from tribunals before this, like Nuremberg. This is the first time a world leader is directly spearheading this tribunal. This could well be the most serious, far reaching tribunal of all.

Abbas Abid, survivor of the Fallujah Massacre

I feel (this is the) correct way to criminalise war (and to prosecute) war criminals like (US president George W) Bush, (British Prime Minister Tony) Blair and (Australian Prime Minister John) Howard.

Cynthia McKinney, former representative to the House of Representatives for the 4th District of Georgia

It's necessary work. It's the kind of work that will push the international institutions to perform the functions that they were founded upon.

Dr Mahathir is admirable, necessary (for this cause) and competent. This isn't hot air. This tribunal isn't going to give up.