QUEEN’S University in Belfast has come under fire for appointing former US secretary of state Hillary Clinton as its chancellor, with cries of “war criminal” heard at her inauguration.

Ms Clinton took to Twitter after Friday’s ceremony, writing: “Just call me Madam
Chancellor.”

“Butcher of Libya is actually much more fitting,” Lebanese political commentator Sarah Abdallah replied on Monday to her more than quarter of a million followers.

Veteran journalist John Pilger joined her today in expressing his anger at the installation of Ms Clinton, which was delayed by a year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“Shame on Queens University, Belfast, for making Hillary Clinton its ‘first female chancellor’ — the woman who rejoiced in the destruction of modern Libya, causing 20,000 dead and gloating over the grisly murder of its leader; whose ‘foundation’ backed terrorist states. Shame!” Mr Pilger said.

Ms Clinton thanked the prestigious Irish university for the opportunity to serve a five-year term as its chancellor.

“I am delighted finally to return to Queen’s as the 11th and first female chancellor … When I was asked, the answer was easy. An emphatic Yes!” she said.

But her speech was drowned out by chants of “war criminal” and “out, out” after angry protests greeted her entrance to the university.

Ms Clinton, who served as secretary of state under former US president Barack Obama, famously celebrated the gruesome killing of Libyan leader Muammar Gadaffi by saying: “We came, we saw, he died.”
    
The hawkish Democrat has backed a coup in Haiti, voted in favour of war in Iraq, endorsed a “troop surge” in Afghanistan and, while secretary of state, supported nearly 300 drone strikes in Pakistan which killed about 3,000 people.

Queen’s University president and vice-chancellor Ian Greer sought to justify Ms Clinton’s appointment by describing her as “an internationally recognised public servant who has demonstrated a long-standing commitment to Northern Ireland.”