@JP_MartinezJohn Paul Martinez
Gaddafi can't be left in Libya, says international criminal courtgu.com/p/3vzf4/tw via @guardian
The international criminal court has dismissed suggestions by Britain and France that Colonel Muammar Gaddafi could be allowed to remain inLibya as part of negotiated deal to remove him from power, insisting that a new government would be obliged to arrest the dictator under warrants issued by the court. The ICC, which Britain and France have signed up to, said that Gaddafi could not be allowed to escape justice. "He has to be arrested," said Florence Olara, spokeswoman for the court's chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
"What happens to Gaddafi is ultimately a question for the Libyans," Hague said. "It is for the Libyan people to determine their own future. Whatever happens, Gaddafi must leave power. On Monday the foreign secretary, William Hague, said Britain was prepared to agree to a political settlement in Libya that would see Gaddafi remain in the country after relinquishing his hold on power. "He must never again be able to threaten the lives of Libyan civilians, nor to destabilise Libya once he has left power."
There were "reasonable grounds to believe" that the three men were "criminally responsible" for the murder and persecution of civilians, said a statement read out by the ICC's presiding judge, Sanji Monageng. Gaddafi had absolute and unquestioned control over Libya as its undisputed leader, and had introduced a policy to suppress civilian demonstrations by any means, including by the use of force, the court said.