The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno Ocampo, announced Monday he asked the judges a warrant for crimes against humanity against Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, his son Saif al Islam and the head of the intelligence Libyan Abdullah Al Senusi. "Based on the evidence collected, the prosecutor's office has asked the Senate Preliminary No.
1 to deliver arrest warrants against Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam and Abdullah Al Sanusi," said Moreno Ocampo on a wheel Press in The Hague where the ICC is based. "We believe they are the most responsible" for the current conflict situation in Libya, three months after the outbreak of a revolt against the regime of Gadhafi, the prosecutor said, adding that Libyan authorities have the "obligation" to execute the arrest warrants.
The ICC judges can decide whether to accept the prosecutor's request, if the reject or seek further information. "The evidence collected shows that Moammar Gadhafi personally commanded Libyan attacks unarmed civilians," said Moreno-Ocampo of Argentina. "His son Saif al Islam is the de facto prime minister, "he added." Abdullah al-Sanusi is his right arm and personally ordered some attacks, "said the prosecutor.
The British Foreign Minister, William Hague, on Monday welcomed the announcement and called the international community to "support the ICC in its investigations" and "all United Nations Member States to cooperate (...) fully. "Just what do", responded on the other hand the German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle.
"We believe that a man who leads a war against its own people should respond," he said. The ICC Prosecutor opened an investigation on March 3 for crimes against humanity committed in Libya since mid-February, against eight Libyan personalities, including Gadhafi and three of his children.
Since then, the prosecutor's office carried out 30 missions in 11 countries. It examined more than 200 thousand documents, including videos and photographs. Also conducted 50 interviews, in some cases with eyewitnesses. Instead, the prosecutor's office questioned witnesses in Libya to not endanger them.
A team of five members of the prosecutor's office on Sunday ended a 74-page dossier, five annexes, containing the details of the report to apply for a warrant. "We have solid evidence," said Moreno Ocampo. "We have numerous direct evidence, we are almost ready to go to a trial" he added.
The order of arrest "is a first step towards justice," responded the organization of advocacy group Human Rights Watch. Since the rebellion began in Libya in mid-February, thousands of people died, according to Moreno-Ocampo. About 750 thousand people had to flee, according to the UN. Three months after the start of the revolt, Gadhafi is still in power, it occupied 42 years ago, and is not a solution to the conflict in the North African country.
Moreno Ocampo had already asserted that the allegations of war crimes committed in Libya, including rape and attacks since late February, would lead to another investigation. The ICC is the first permanent charge of prosecuting perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed since 2002.
The Security Council UN decided to use the ICC Prosecutor by the situation in Libya on 26 February, just two weeks after the start of the revolt in that country. With respect to crimes committed in Darfur, the Security Council appealed to the ICC two years after the conflict started in this region of Sudan, in March 2005.
The judges took eight months to deliver an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al Beshir, when he also was in office and was asked by the prosecutor in July 2008. 
1 to deliver arrest warrants against Muammar Gaddafi, Saif al-Islam and Abdullah Al Sanusi," said Moreno Ocampo on a wheel Press in The Hague where the ICC is based. "We believe they are the most responsible" for the current conflict situation in Libya, three months after the outbreak of a revolt against the regime of Gadhafi, the prosecutor said, adding that Libyan authorities have the "obligation" to execute the arrest warrants.
The ICC judges can decide whether to accept the prosecutor's request, if the reject or seek further information. "The evidence collected shows that Moammar Gadhafi personally commanded Libyan attacks unarmed civilians," said Moreno-Ocampo of Argentina. "His son Saif al Islam is the de facto prime minister, "he added." Abdullah al-Sanusi is his right arm and personally ordered some attacks, "said the prosecutor.
The British Foreign Minister, William Hague, on Monday welcomed the announcement and called the international community to "support the ICC in its investigations" and "all United Nations Member States to cooperate (...) fully. "Just what do", responded on the other hand the German Foreign Minister, Guido Westerwelle.
"We believe that a man who leads a war against its own people should respond," he said. The ICC Prosecutor opened an investigation on March 3 for crimes against humanity committed in Libya since mid-February, against eight Libyan personalities, including Gadhafi and three of his children.
Since then, the prosecutor's office carried out 30 missions in 11 countries. It examined more than 200 thousand documents, including videos and photographs. Also conducted 50 interviews, in some cases with eyewitnesses. Instead, the prosecutor's office questioned witnesses in Libya to not endanger them.
A team of five members of the prosecutor's office on Sunday ended a 74-page dossier, five annexes, containing the details of the report to apply for a warrant. "We have solid evidence," said Moreno Ocampo. "We have numerous direct evidence, we are almost ready to go to a trial" he added.
The order of arrest "is a first step towards justice," responded the organization of advocacy group Human Rights Watch. Since the rebellion began in Libya in mid-February, thousands of people died, according to Moreno-Ocampo. About 750 thousand people had to flee, according to the UN. Three months after the start of the revolt, Gadhafi is still in power, it occupied 42 years ago, and is not a solution to the conflict in the North African country.
Moreno Ocampo had already asserted that the allegations of war crimes committed in Libya, including rape and attacks since late February, would lead to another investigation. The ICC is the first permanent charge of prosecuting perpetrators of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide committed since 2002.
The Security Council UN decided to use the ICC Prosecutor by the situation in Libya on 26 February, just two weeks after the start of the revolt in that country. With respect to crimes committed in Darfur, the Security Council appealed to the ICC two years after the conflict started in this region of Sudan, in March 2005.
The judges took eight months to deliver an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al Beshir, when he also was in office and was asked by the prosecutor in July 2008.
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