Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Gaddafi's death 'may have been war crime'

 

Ap
Friday 16 December 2011 01:00 GMT
Comments

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court has said there are "serious suspicions" that the death of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi was a war crime.

Luis Moreno Ocampo has sent a letter to the head of Libya's National Transitional Council asking about the new government's plans to investigate alleged war crimes by all parties, including the rebels.

Witness accounts and video taken of the deposed dictator after his capture by rebel fighters show that he was beaten and abused, and there were strong indications that he was killed in custody.

"The death of Muammar Gaddafi is one of the issues to be clarified because there are serious suspicions that it was a war crime," Mr Moreno Ocampo said.

He said what the ICC does on Gaddafi's death and other war crimes will depend on what Libya's interim government does because under the Rome statute that established the war crimes tribunal, the ICC only steps in if national authorities are unwilling or unable to act.

Mr Moreno Ocampo's office is also working with Libyan authorities on the case of Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam, and former intelligence chief, Abdullah al-Senoussi.

Libya's new leaders are keen to try al-Islam at home, despite not yet having a strong court system.

libya

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in