Naharnet

World Court Prosecutor Seeks Gadhafi Arrest Warrant

The U.N. war crimes court's chief prosecutor said Monday he would seek arrest warrants against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his son Saif al-Islam and his intelligence head for crimes against humanity.

"Today, the office of the prosecutor requested the International Criminal Court (issue) arrest warrants," Luis Moreno-Ocampo said at a press conference in The Hague, where the International Criminal Court is based.

The Argentinean prosecutor said there was evidence "that Moammar Gadhafi personally ordered attacks on innocent Libyan civilians".

A panel of ICC judges will now have to decide whether to accept or reject the prosecutor's application, based on his case file.

Moreno-Ocampo announced on March 3 he was opening an investigation into human rights abuses in Libya as the anti-regime revolt entered its fourth month in the North African country.

His investigation targeted eight people, including Gadhafi and three of his sons.

Protests against Gadhafi's four-decade rule began on February 15 with Moreno-Ocampo saying thousands of people have been killed in the violence and around 750,000 people forced to flee, according to U.N. figures.

Source: Agence France Presse


Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. https://naharnet.com/stories/en/6568