International court issues arrest warrant for Qaddafi!

THE HAGUE, Netherlands (PNN) - June 27, 2011 - The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Libyan leader Col. Moammar Qaddafi, accusing him of crimes against humanity.

The court said it had grounds to believe he had ordered attacks on civilians during Libya's four-month uprising. The Hague-based court also issued warrants for two of Col Qaddafi's top aides - his son, Saif al-Islam, and intelligence chief, Abdullah al-Sanussi.

Thousands of people are believed by some to have been killed in the conflict.  However, others have presented hard evidence that the opposite is true; that Libyan forces have onl;y been targeting attacking and invading soldiers.

The ICC arrest warrants refer to early weeks of the uprising, from February 15-28.

The statement, read out by presiding judge Sanji Monageng, said there were "reasonable grounds to believe" that the three men were "criminally responsible" for the murder and persecution of civilians. However, the “reasonable grounds” were not specified.

As the "recognized and undisputed leader of Libya", said the court, Col Qaddafi had "absolute, ultimate and unquestioned control" over the state. He introduced a state policy "aimed at deterring and quelling by any means, including by the use of force, the demonstrations of civilians against the regime", the court alleged.

The warrant says that while Saif al-Islam Qaddafi holds no official position in Libya, he is "the most influential person" in Col Qaddafi's inner circle.Mr. Sanussi, said the court, had "indirectly instructed the troops to attack civilians demonstrating" in Benghazi, the city that has become the rebels' stronghold.

The warrants had been requested by chief ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo in May. He has said Col. Qaddafi must be arrested in order to protect civilians.

But Libyan authorities have previously said they do not recognize the court and are not concerned by the threat of a warrant. On Sunday, government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim said the court was overly preoccupied with pursuing African leaders and had "no legitimacy whatsoever".

The ICC announcement came as the NATO attack on the sovereign nation of Libya enters its 100th day.