New York, NY (BBN)– The International Criminal Court (ICC) will investigate Libyan President Moammar Gadhafi’s regime for crimes against humanity in repressing peaceful protesters, as a top United Nations official on Wednesday called for global action to avert a humanitarian disaster inside the country.
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has said preliminary examination of available information shows that an investigation is warranted after the Security Council last week asked him to look into the violent repression in which more than 1,000 people are reported to have been killed and many more injured as Mr. Gadhafi’s loyalists opened fire on peaceful civilians demanding his ouster.
Mr. Moreno-Ocampo will present an overview of the alleged crimes committed in Libya since 15 February and information on the entities and persons who could be prosecuted at a news conference in The Hague on Thursday.
After his investigation he will present his case to ICC judges who will then decide whether or not to issue arrest warrants based on the evidence.
Only one sitting head of State has so far been indicted by the ICC and slapped with an arrest warrant – Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who was charged in March 2008 with war crimes and crimes against humanity in the strife-torn Darfur region.
The General Assembly has already suspended Libya from the UN Human Rights Council for “gross and systematic” human rights violations because of the violent repression.
BBN/SSR/AD-03Mar11-11:07 am (BST)
