ICC’s chief prosecutor seeks arrest warrant for Libyan long-time ruler as NATO steps up raids
The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on Monday sought an arrest warrant for Libyan long-time ruler Muammar Gaddafi, accusing him of committing crimes against humanity by killing protesters during an uprising against his 41-year rule.
The top war crimes prosecutor also asked judges, who now need to see if there is enough evidence to issue warrants, for the arrest of Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam and his spy chief Abdullah al-Senussi.
"Today, the office of the prosecutor requested the International Criminal Court arrest warrants," Moreno-Ocampo told a news conference in The Hague, where the court is based. The Argentine prosecutor said there was evidence "that Gaddafi personally ordered attacks on innocent Libyan civilians".
"The office gathered direct evidence about orders issued by Muammar Gaddafi himself, direct evidence of Saif al-Islam organizing the recruitment of mercenaries and direct evidence of the participation of al-Senussi in the attacks against demonstrators," Moreno-Ocampo said.
He added the office of the prosecutor also documented how the three held meetings "to plan the operations" and Gaddafi used his "absolute authority to commit crimes in Libya."
CRIMES WILL NOT GO UNPUNISHED
The Libyan opposition welcomed the prosecutor's move. "We have been impatiently waiting for such a decision. It is an important decision," said Belkacem, an opposition spokesman in the besieged city of Misrata. "Gaddafi hasn't stopped killing our brothers in all areas across Libya."
British Foreign Secretary William Hague called on the international community to "fully support" the ICC. "I welcome this announcement. The human rights situation in western Libya and the behavior of the Gaddafi regime remains of grave concern," Hague said. "The request for these warrants is a reminder to all in Gaddafi's regime that crimes will not go unpunished and the reach of international justice will be long," he added.
GADDAFI’S DAYS NUMBERED
Italian Foreign Minister Franco Frattini said the days of Gaddafi’s regime were "numbered" and that some Libyan officials were looking for a way for their leader to go into exile. "Messages have been arriving from the regime's restricted circle," Frattini said in a Channel 5 television interview. "Certain members have spoken under cover and are beginning to say that Gaddafi is looking for an honorable way out," he added.
On Sunday, Gaddafi's Prime Minister Baghdadi Mahmudi offered a truce to UN special envoy, Abdul-Ilah al-Khatib, in return for an immediate NATO ceasefire. Mahmudi said after meeting Khatib that Libya wants "an immediate ceasefire to coincide with a stop to the NATO bombardment and the acceptance of international observers," JANA reported. He accused the Western alliance, which is leading the enforcement of a UN-mandated no-fly zone over Libya, of "abuses and violations" including "political assassinations, the unjust maritime siege, bombing of civilian sites and destruction of infrastructure."
NATO STEPS UP RAIDS
NATO-led aircraft meanwhile launched fresh raids on an outlying suburb of the capital Tripoli, destroying a radar base, the state news agency JANA and residents said.
In the main eastern city Benghazi, opposition spokesman Jalal al-Gallal touted the uprising's achievements. "These three months have been very long," Gallal told AFP. "But we managed to secure the eastern areas, free Misrata and the mountainous regions in the west."
"Gaddafi's isolation is irreversible. And most importantly, we achieved freedom, freedom of speech, freedom of movement. Gaddafi's biggest mistake was failing to understand how important these were for us."
