Judges at the International Criminal Court have issued arrest warrants for Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi and two top lieutenants on war crimes charges linked to their suppression of an opposition uprising against his 42-year rule.
The court issued the warrants Monday in response to charges filed by ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo against Mr. Gadhafi, his son Seif al-Islam and the head of Libyan intelligence, Abdullah al-Senussi.
Moreno-Ocampo accuses Mr. Gadhafi and his aides of implementing a policy of deterring people from protesting by any means, including detentions, torture and the use of lethal force, such as ordering snipers to fire on civilians leaving mosques.
Presiding ICC judge Sanji Monageng says there are “reasonable grounds to believe” that the Libyan leader and his son are “criminally responsible” for the murder and persecution of hundreds of civilians in the early days of the uprising, which began in February.
Residents of the Libyan rebel stronghold of Benghazi in eastern Libya gathered in the streets Monday to celebrate the court ruling. The head of the rebel Transitional National Council welcomed the ICC move and warned that anyone who tries to hide Mr. Gadhafi also will face justice.
The court says the three indicted Libyans must be arrested quickly to stop them from covering-up the alleged crimes and committing further ones.
Mr. Gadhafi denies targeting civilians. Speaking Sunday, Libyan government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim accused the ICC of double standards for not acting against what he called NATO “crimes” against civilians in Libya, Afghanistan and Iraq.
A NATO campaign of air strikes on Libyan government targets entered its 100th day Monday. Witnesses reported hearing two loud explosions in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, Monday, with smoke rising from the area near Mr. Gadhafi's Bab al-Aziziya compound.
The alliance says it has been acting under a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for action to protect Libyan civilians from government attack.
Tunisia's state news agency said Monday three Libyan government ministers, including Foreign Minister Abdelati Obeidi, were holding talks with “several foreign parties” on the Tunisian island of Djerba. It did not give further details.
