Accessibility links

Breaking News

Libya to Fight ICC Demand for Gadhafi's Son


A group of people including journalists and human rights activists wait outside the court as Saif al-Islam, a son of deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, made his appearance, in Zintan, 160 km southwest of Tripoli May 2, 2013.
A group of people including journalists and human rights activists wait outside the court as Saif al-Islam, a son of deposed Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi, made his appearance, in Zintan, 160 km southwest of Tripoli May 2, 2013.
Libya says it will appeal a ruling by the International Criminal Court ordering it to hand over Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of former ruler Moammar Gadhafi.

Judges at the ICC on Friday rejected Libya's claim that the tribunal has no right to try Gadhafi because Tripoli intends to try him. Libya argues that the international court can intervene only if the local legal system is not up to the task.

ICC judges said Libyan government lawyers have not proved that their authorities are investigating the same crimes as the international prosecutors. They also questioned whether Libya has full custody over Saif al-Islam, something it would need if it were to try him.

The 40-year-old son of the former dictator is being held by rebel captors in the western mountain city of Zintan, where the power of the central government is weak.

The ICC wants to try him for alleged crimes committed during the 2011 uprising that toppled his father.
  • 16x9 Image

    VOA News

    The Voice of America provides news and information in more than 40 languages to an estimated weekly audience of over 326 million people. Stories with the VOA News byline are the work of multiple VOA journalists and may contain information from wire service reports.

XS
SM
MD
LG