The US embassy in London is refusing to pay more than USD 18.6 million in charges from unpaid congestion fees, CNN reported citing Transport for London (TfL), which oversees the city`s vast transport network. The congestion charge was introduced in 2003 to stem traffic and pollution in central London. Drivers within the congestion charge zone are required to pay a USD 19 daily charge between 7 am and 6 pm on weekdays and 12 pm and 6 pm on weekends.

TfL said it will pursue all unpaid fees, adding in a statement ot was even "pushing for the matter to be taken up at the International Court of Justice." The US embassy declined to pay up claiming diplomatic immunity from the fines, CNN reported. "In accordance with international law as reflected in the 1961 Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations, our position is that the congestion charge is a tax from which diplomatic missions are exempt," a US embassy spokesperson said, CNN reported.