Ghana's former president Jerry Rawlings says African countries, not the International Criminal Court (ICC), should try any African leaders accused of war crimes.

Mr. Rawlings, now an African Union envoy, made the comments Monday at the opening session of the Pan African Parliament in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa.

Former Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo and several prominent Kenyan politicians are among those facing possible trials at the ICC.

“It is simply humiliating that in the 21st century, our continent finds some of its leaders hounded to The Hague like lambs to the slaughter, while we are supposed to have the capacity to judge our own. We have to leave The Hague to those who cannot control their destiny.”

Libya's new government and the ICC have argued over whether Libya has the capacity to try Saif al-Islam Gadhafi, the son of late leader Moammar Gadhafi. Mr. Rawlings voiced support for Libya.

“If Libyans were perceived or seen as qualified and justified to overthrow the Gadhafi regime in their quest for freedom and justice, why then are they not qualified and good enough to try their own?''

His comments come a week before ICC rules on whether cases against six Kenyans will go to trial. The Kenyans, who include the country's deputy prime minister, are accused of masterminding a wave of ethnic violence after the disputed 2007 presidential election that killed some 1,300 people.