By Barbara Among
THE Government has described as premature the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi for crimes against humanity committed by his regime.
The issuance of the arrest warrant is premature. It does not give the option for dialogue as proposed by the African Union, international affairs minister Okello Oryem said yesterday.
The Hague-based court said Gadaffi ordered attacks on civilians during Libyas four-month uprising.
The arrest warrant also covers two of his closest allies; Gadaffis son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi.
While Uganda describes it as biased, Libya yesterday rejected the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the arrest of Gadaffi, saying the tribunal has no authority.
Oryem said the court should have investigated all parties involved in the conflict before making conclusions on who is responsible for crimes committed in the ongoing conflict.
There are two parties to the
conflict in Libya; the government side and the rebels. Ocampo should have investigated both sides and presented to us. But for now, it leaves an impression that he is haunting the vulnerable sitting heads of state in Africa, Okello said.
The court issued the arrest warrant on Monday, and this came on the 100th day of NATO operations in Libya.
Despite the operation, however, the Libyan leader is said to be strong and is still in control of the capital Tripoli. Fears remain of a fully-fledged civil war.
Libyan rebels have also rejected the African Union proposals of dialogue and a blanket amnesty for Gadaffi and his close associates.
THE Government has described as premature the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court for Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gadaffi for crimes against humanity committed by his regime.
The issuance of the arrest warrant is premature. It does not give the option for dialogue as proposed by the African Union, international affairs minister Okello Oryem said yesterday.
The Hague-based court said Gadaffi ordered attacks on civilians during Libyas four-month uprising.
The arrest warrant also covers two of his closest allies; Gadaffis son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi.
While Uganda describes it as biased, Libya yesterday rejected the warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for the arrest of Gadaffi, saying the tribunal has no authority.
Oryem said the court should have investigated all parties involved in the conflict before making conclusions on who is responsible for crimes committed in the ongoing conflict.
There are two parties to the
conflict in Libya; the government side and the rebels. Ocampo should have investigated both sides and presented to us. But for now, it leaves an impression that he is haunting the vulnerable sitting heads of state in Africa, Okello said.
The court issued the arrest warrant on Monday, and this came on the 100th day of NATO operations in Libya.
Despite the operation, however, the Libyan leader is said to be strong and is still in control of the capital Tripoli. Fears remain of a fully-fledged civil war.
Libyan rebels have also rejected the African Union proposals of dialogue and a blanket amnesty for Gadaffi and his close associates.
