But Communities and Local Government Minister Grant Shapps rejected the opposition's charges and accused Labour of leaving the coalition a "toxic legacy of debt" under their "scorched earth policy".

BBC: Local government cuts will 'hammer' poorer areas

Scotland's energy minister said in terms of the energy market "abandonment of Scotland" or a "scorched earth policy" by the UK government if Scotland became independent would lead to consequences south of the border which "would be disastrous".

BBC: Energy Committee 2

It is a scorched earth policy.

CNN: Chicago board votes to close 50 schools

"He is pursuing a scorched-earth policy, " said a senior Syrian rebel commander of Syria's president.

WSJ: Turkey Summit Promises Clash Over Syria

The war, said Asem, resulted in "a lot of aggression against the environment" -- most infamously, the destruction of Kuwait's oil fields as part of Hussein's "scorched earth" policy on retreat.

CNN: November 12, 2012 -- Updated 1223 GMT (2023 HKT)

BRUSSELS, Belgium (CNN) -- More than half a million ethnic Albanian refugees have fled what NATO calls Yugoslavia's "scorched-earth policy" in Kosovo, creating the beginnings of a humanitarian crisis, an alliance spokesman said Sunday.

CNN: NATO: 500,000 ethnic Albanians displaced by Serbs