ICC opens investigation into possible crimes against humanity in Libya by International Criminal Court 9:41pm 3rd Mar, 2011 Mar 2, 2011 The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has said he will open a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity in Libya. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the ICC prosecutor, decided to launch the investigation on Wednesday after a "preliminary examination of available information." The announcement was an unprecedentedly swift reaction to the violent crackdown on anti-government protests by Muammar Gaddafi, the Libyan leader, and his supporters. Prosecutors often take months and sometimes years to decide whether to open an investigation into possible war crimes. The ICC has previously said that it has been in contact with Libyan army officers to gather information about civilian deaths during the uprising and pledged "no impunity" for anyone found to have committed crimes against humanity. "Information suggests that forces loyal to President Muammar Gaddafi are attacking civilians in Libya. This could constitute crimes against humanity and must stop,” Moreno-Ocampo said on Tuesday. "There will be no impunity for leaders involved in commission of crimes," he said. 1 March 2011 (UN News) Christian Wenaweser, Permanent Representative of Liechtenstein to the United Nations: “This is a decision of historic importance for the International Criminal Court (ICC) in that it is for the first time in the history of the Court that the Security Council has referred a situation to it by consensus. You know there was one referral in the past of the situation in Darfur that was at that time not a consensual decision. I think it’s an important development.” Prince Zeid Ra’ad Zeid Al-Hussein, Permanent Representative of Jordan to the United Nations: “The urgency of the situation inside Libya necessitated swift action. And from all the reports that we have been getting about massive crimes being committed, the International Criminal Court is the obvious address to which the Security Council must turn. It was driven by the request sent forward by the Permanent Representative of Libyan Jamahiriya.” The “widespread and systematic attacks currently taking place in the Libyan Arab Jamahiriya against the civilian population may amount to crimes against humanity,” the resolution has directed the Libyan authorities to cooperate fully with the ICC in its investigations of the situation in Libya since 15 February 2011, while recognizing that the country is not party to the Rome Statute that created the Court. Visit the related web page |
|
Next (more recent) news item
| |
Next (older) news item
|