International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Gaddafi

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International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Gaddafi

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The International Criminal Court prosecutor has issued arrest warrants for Libya's Muammar Gaddafi.

16 May,2011 11:53 pm

The International Criminal Court prosecutor has issued arrest warrants for Libyas Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and the countrys spy chief on charges of crimes against humanity.ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo wants the Libyan dictator to answer claims that civilians were attacked in their homes and demonstrations were repressed using live ammunition.Further, that heavy artillery was used against funeral processions and snipers placed to kill those leaving mosques after prayers. The prosecutors office had received calls from senior officials in the Gaddafi government in the past week to provide information.Prosecutors also spoke with eyewitnesses to attacks and assessed evidence from 1,200 documents, plus videos and pictures. We have strong evidence, Mr Moreno-Ocampo said. We are almost ready for trial. Gaddafi ruled Libya through fear and Libyans are losing that fear now.The requests for arrest warrants follow UN Security Council referral of the violence in Libya to the Hague-based court in February and after Mr Moreno-Ocampo said earlier this month he would seek three arrest warrants for the pre-determined killing of protesters in Libya.The office gathered direct evidence about orders issued by Muammar Gaddafi himself, direct evidence of Saif al-Islam organising the recruitment of mercenaries and direct evidence of the participation of (Abdullah) al-Senussi in the attacks against demonstrators, Mr Moreno-Ocampo continued.Al-Senussi, Libyas spy chief, is Gaddafis brother-in-law. Mr Moreno-Ocampo said his office had documented how the three held meetings to plan the operations and that Gaddafi had used his absolute authority to commit crimes in Libya.