22.11.11 - ICC/LIBYA - LUIS MORENO OCAMPO IN TRIPOLI TO MEET LIBYAN AUTHORITIES

The Hague, November 22, 2011 (FH) - The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrived in Tripoli on Tuesday to meet Libyan authorities about Saif Al-Islam Gadaffi's trial and unconfirmed arrest of Abdullah Al-Senussi.

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Luis Moreno Ocampo declared that  "Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi must face justice. In resolution 1970, the UN Security Council referred the situation in Libya to the ICC and required the Libyan authorities to cooperate with the Court".

He added that his trip was intended to understand Libyan's plans regarding the matter, underlining:  "this is not a military or political issue, it is a legal requirement."

Warrants of arrest for Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi were issued by ICC judges on 27 June 2011. Saif Al-Islam was arrested in November 19 in South Libya, while the arrest of Senoussi has not yet been officially confirmed. Both men are charged with crimes against humanity.

Libyan authorities have already said that Saif Al-Islam was to be tried in Libya. "Should the Libyan authorities wish to try him in Libya, they can make the case before the Court that their national judicial system is willing and able to do so in an independent and impartial manner", President of the Assembly of the ICC State parties,  Christian Wenawesser, declared on Monday.

According to the non-profit organization Human Rights Watch, such trial would require "extensive resources and capacity".

GF/SM

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