ICC: Killing of Libyan civilians could be criminal

[February 28, 2011]  THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) -- The International Criminal Court said Monday it has been in contact with Libyan army officers in its first attempt to gather information on civilian deaths, and pledged "no impunity" for anyone found to have committed crimes against humanity.

Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said he hoped to decide "within days" whether to open a formal investigation that could lead to indictments against those responsible, and had formed a team to begin gathering information.

Moreno Ocampo said his investigators had been in touch with Libyan officials and army officers to understand the command structure in Libya, which could help determine who might be subject to prosecution. He did not elaborate on who his office had contacted or how.

"Information suggests that forces loyal to President Muammar Gadhafi are attacking civilians in Libya. This could constitute crimes against humanity and must stop," the Argentinian prosecutor said.

"There will be no impunity for leaders involved in commission of crimes," he said.

The U.N. Security Council this weekend instructed the court in The Hague to look into the turmoil in Libya to decide whether crimes had been committed. It was only the second time the U.N. body had asked the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal to intercede in a conflict, following its 2005 request to probe mass killings in Darfur in western Sudan.

That investigation led to an indictment for genocide of President Omar al-Bashir. The Sudanese leader has rejected the charges and refused to surrender to the court.

[Associated Press; By MIKE CORDER]

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.