الرئيسية
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) — International Criminal Court
prosecutors said Tuesday they will review efforts by Libya's new rulers
to investigate the death of the country's longtime dictator, Moammar
Gadhafi.
Prosecutors said in a letter to the lawyer of one of the
late dictator's daughters that they will give details of the review to
the United Nations Security Council in a report next May. In the same
report, prosecutors will outline their "strategy with regards to future
investigations" of alleged war crimes in Libya.
Attorney Nick
Kaufman wrote to prosecutors earlier this month seeking details of any
ICC investigation into the October slayings of Gadhafi and one of his
sons, Muatassim, after they were captured by rebels.
Under the
ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute, prosecutors are obliged to
investigate all sides of conflicts. However, the statute also makes
clear that the ICC is a court of last resort, which can be called into
action when national governments cannot or will not launch
investigations into atrocities.
In their letter to Kaufman,
prosecutors say that due to the primacy of national courts their future
strategy in Libya, "will depend on the activities of the Libyan national
authorities and whether they are genuinely carrying out such
investigations."
Kaufman said Aisha Gadhafi welcomed the letter
and said she believes any ICC investigation should also cover possible
crimes committed by NATO as the alliance launched air strikes intended
to protect civilians during the rebels' battle to topple Gadhafi as well
as allegations of atrocities carried out by forces loyal to the new
Libyan government.
But Kaufman said Aisha Gadhafi also had
questions over "to what extent an objective and effective investigation
which meets international standards" could happen if ICC prosecutors
delay their involvement in the case until after they report to the
Security Council in May.
"We believe the exigencies of a
professional investigation require immediate involvement of the OTP,"
Kaufman wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
Prosecutors indicted Gadhafi along with his son Seif al-Islam Gadhafi and the regime's intelligence chief earlier this year.
prosecutors said Tuesday they will review efforts by Libya's new rulers
to investigate the death of the country's longtime dictator, Moammar
Gadhafi.
Prosecutors said in a letter to the lawyer of one of the
late dictator's daughters that they will give details of the review to
the United Nations Security Council in a report next May. In the same
report, prosecutors will outline their "strategy with regards to future
investigations" of alleged war crimes in Libya.
Attorney Nick
Kaufman wrote to prosecutors earlier this month seeking details of any
ICC investigation into the October slayings of Gadhafi and one of his
sons, Muatassim, after they were captured by rebels.
Under the
ICC's founding treaty, the Rome Statute, prosecutors are obliged to
investigate all sides of conflicts. However, the statute also makes
clear that the ICC is a court of last resort, which can be called into
action when national governments cannot or will not launch
investigations into atrocities.
In their letter to Kaufman,
prosecutors say that due to the primacy of national courts their future
strategy in Libya, "will depend on the activities of the Libyan national
authorities and whether they are genuinely carrying out such
investigations."
Kaufman said Aisha Gadhafi welcomed the letter
and said she believes any ICC investigation should also cover possible
crimes committed by NATO as the alliance launched air strikes intended
to protect civilians during the rebels' battle to topple Gadhafi as well
as allegations of atrocities carried out by forces loyal to the new
Libyan government.
But Kaufman said Aisha Gadhafi also had
questions over "to what extent an objective and effective investigation
which meets international standards" could happen if ICC prosecutors
delay their involvement in the case until after they report to the
Security Council in May.
"We believe the exigencies of a
professional investigation require immediate involvement of the OTP,"
Kaufman wrote in an email to The Associated Press.
Prosecutors indicted Gadhafi along with his son Seif al-Islam Gadhafi and the regime's intelligence chief earlier this year.