Ocampo said the investigations would look at crimes allegedly committed by all parties to the recent conflict, including NATO and former rebel forces.
The ICC Prosecutor opened investigations in March into crimes committed in Libya, in compliance with a UN Security Council Resolution. In June, the ICC issued three arrest warrants against Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and former intelligence chief Abdullah Al-Senoussi, for crimes against humanity committed after February 15, 2011.
Ocampo told the Security Council his office would "end the case" of Muammar Gaddafi, who died on October 20. He said ICC investigations in Libya would focus on "the collection of evidence against Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi in preparation for their eventual trial" and on allegations that rape was used as a weapon in the conflict.
The ICC Prosecutor stressed that there would also be investigations into "allegations of crimes committed by NATO, (...) allegations of crimes committed by NTC-related forces, including the alleged detention of civilians suspected to be mercenaries and the alleged killing of detained combatants".
Ocampo confirmed that his office was in indirect contact with Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi concerning the ICC case against him and the possibility of surrendering to the court.
The Prosecutor was presenting his second report on Libya to the UN Security Council. He concluded by stressing that "the possibility to carry out all of these investigations will depend on the budget available to the Office".
The ICC's 2012 budget will be adopted in December during the Assembly of States Parties in New York. Member states are currently opposed to increasing the budget from its 2011 level of about 100 million Euros.
SM/GF/JC
© Hirondelle News Agency