ICC requests Gaddafi arrest warrant

BEIJING, May 17 (Xinhuanet) --The International Criminal Court's Chief Prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi on charges of crimes against humanity. Warrants are also being sought for his son-- Saif al-Islam-- including, the country's spy chief.

Gadhafi and his son Saif are jointly accused of ordering, planning and participating in illegal attacks on civilians.

The prosecutor says Gaddafi's forces carried out a range of atrocities, including attacking civilians in their homes, shooting demonstrators, shelling funerals, and deploying snipers outside mosques. Judges must now evaluate the evidence before deciding whether to confirm the charges and issue international arrest warrants.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, Int'l Criminal Court Prosecutor, said, "Based on the evidence collected, the prosecution has applied to pre-trial chamber one for the issuance of arrest warrants against Moammar Muhamad abu Minyar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah al-Sanoussi."

The ICC prosecutor says his team has gathered so much direct evidence that he is almost ready to go to trial.

Experts say the warrants are not expected to have any immediate impact on the war in Libya, but they could make it harder for their targets to end the conflict by going into exile.

Because the Security Council ordered the ICC investigation, all UN member states would be obliged to arrest him if he ventures into their territory.

Source: Xinhua.
Link: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english2010/video/2011-05/17/c_13878741.htm.