The ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo , Wednesday informed the Security Council in New York that he would request three international arrest warrants against those "who appear to bear the greatest criminal responsibility for crimes against humanity committed on the territory of Libya since 15 February 2011".
According to him, evidence collected so far "has confirmed the fears and concerns" of the Council's resolution adopted on February 26, 2011 over perpetration of crimes in Libya.
Before the ICC at The Hague, the trial of former Congolese rebel leaders Germain Katanga and Mathieu Ngudjolo, charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity resumed. The defence continued presenting its case. The prosecution also continued calling witnesses in trial of Jean-Pierre Bemba, leader of Movement for Liberation of Congo.
In German, the trial of two Rwandan rebels, Ignace Murwanashyaka and Straton Musoni, charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity, opened on Wednesday before a local court, while in Norway, the police arrested on Tuesday a 45-year-old Rwandan citizen suspected, among other charges, of genocide and complicity to commit genocide.
Though the police did not reveal the man's name, according to Rwandan media, it should be Sadi Bugingo, a fugitive for whom Rwanda had sent an international arrest warrant in January 2008.
At ICTR in Arusha, Prosecutor Hassan Bubacar Jallow, lodged a notice of appeal against the judgement of the Tribunal for not convicting of conspiracy to commit genocide Jean-Baptiste Gatete, former Rwandan Director in the Ministry of Women and Family Affairs.
On March 29, 2011, the Tribunal sentenced Gatete to life imprisonment after convicting him of genocide and extermination, as a crime against humanity, but it dismissed the offence of conspiracy to commit genocide having found that though the offence was proved, cumulative convictions based on the same facts were not permissible.
In his notice of appeal, however, Jallow is requesting the Appeals Chamber to correct the error and find that cumulative convictions are permissible for conspiracy to commit genocide and genocide and should, then, enter an additional conviction for the offence.
Before the same Tribunal, trials of former Youth Minister Callixte Nzabonimana and ex-Rwandan Mayor, Grégoire Ndahimana resumed and each defendant called two witnesses to testify for their respective defence. The defence for Nzabonimana closed its case and the trial was adjourned side die.
The defence hearing for Ndahimana continues next Monday. There would be also commencement of trial of ex-Rwandan military officer, Captain Idelphonse Nizeyimana on the same day.
FK/ER/GF
© Hirondelle News Agency