The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) arrived in Libya Tuesday, to discuss with Libyan authorities how to prosecute recently captured Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of strongman Moammar Gadhafi.
The ICC also had unconfirmed reports that Gadhafi’s former intelligence chief Abdullah Al-Senussi was also captured.
“Saif Al-Islam Gadhafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi must face justice,” prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said in a statement, adding that “their arrest is a crucial step in bringing to justice those most responsible for crimes committed in Libya.”
Both Gadhafi and Senussi are accused of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and persecution, mainly for their alleged involvement in the regime’s violence against protesters in February. The two were arrested over the weekend after spending months on the run.
The ICC had arrest warrants put out for the two men after the U.N. referred the situation in Libya to the court. Under the U.N. resolution, Libyan authorities are required to cooperate with the ICC.
The interim prime minister of Libya, Abdurrahim El-Keib, has said that the two will be prosecuted in Libya, where he assured that they will receive a fair and impartial trial.
Moreno-Ocampo said he would discuss the trial with Libyan leaders, in the statement Tuesday and did not preclude their being held in Libya.
“The issue of where the trials will be held has to be resolved through consultations with the court. In the end, the ICC judges will decide; there are legal standards which will have to be adhered to.” He added that his office will continue its investigation in Libya.
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