ICC to decide trial location for Gaddafi's son

[News_Editor]

ICC to decide trial location for Gaddafi's son

2011-11-23 21:44:59 GMT+7 (ICT)

THE HAGUE, NETHERLANDS (BNO NEWS) -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday said that the location for the trial of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, the son of the former Libyan leader, has not yet been decided.

Upon his arrival in Libya, ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo underlined the importance of the arrests of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi, who he said "must face justice."

Moreno-Ocampo said the arrests of Gaddafi and Al-Sensussi were a "crucial step in bringing to justice those most responsible for crimes committed in Libya," explaining that this was not a military or political issue, but a legal requirement.

Noting that the United Nations (UN) Security Council referred the situation in Libya to the ICC and required the Libyan authorities to cooperate with the Court in resolution 1970, Moreno-Ocampo said he would discuss the situation with the interim national authorities.

"I will talk to the national authorities and seek information about proposed national proceedings in order to assist us in analyzing the admissibility of the case against Saif Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi and to understand their plans moving ahead," he said.

The issue of where the trials will be held has to be resolved through consultations with the Court, the ICC Prosecutor stated, noting that the ICC judges will decide as there are legal standards which will have to be adhered to.

The ICC previously issued arrest warrants last June for Gaddafi, Al-Senussi and former leader Muammar al-Gaddafi for their roles in attacks on anti-government protesters, hundreds of whom are confirmed to have been killed since opposition forces rose up against the regime as part of a wider pro-democracy movement across North Africa and the Middle East.

Also on Tuesday, the ICC decided to terminate the case against Muammar Gaddafi and withdraw his warrant of arrest as he was killed last month during the final days of Libya's eight-month-long civil war.

Gaddafi was captured on October 20 by fighters supporting Libya's transitional government as he tried to flee his hometown Sirte. He was eventually shot dead but it remains unclear whether he was executed by his captors or if he was killed during fighting between pro-Gaddafi and anti-Gaddafi forces.

It is believed more than 25,000 people have been killed during the civil war.

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