International Criminal Court Begins Libya Inquiry

THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court has started a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity in Libya that will focus on the role of the country’s leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, several of his sons and members of his inner circle, the chief prosecutor said Thursday.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the prosecutor, said his office had received confirmation that Libyan security forces had fired on peaceful demonstrators, killing hundreds, and that many had been illegally detained in episodes involving at least nine different towns since Feb. 15.

He also said in an interview that judging by the information he had received, many more insiders from the Libyan government had defected than was publicly known. “The system appears to be breaking down,” he said, adding that reports about recent events and the inner workings of the government had come from multiple sources. “We cannot name names to protect the families,” he said.

In a unanimous vote on Saturday, the United Nations Security Council instructed the international prosecutor to investigate the violence in Libya, and it approved a series of other measures including imposing an arms embargo on the country, banning international travel for 16 Libyan leaders and freezing the assets of Colonel Qaddafi and members of his family.

While the criminal investigation and the international sanctions are expected to take weeks to have any effect, they reflected widespread condemnation of the bloody crackdown in Libya against antigovernment protesters.

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said he hoped that at this stage his actions could have a deterrent effect. He said he was putting senior officials in Libya — “individuals with formal or de facto authority” — on notice that they could be held responsible if forces under their command committed crimes.

In addition to Col. Qaddafi and his sons, the prosecutor is expected to investigate the heads of security and military intelligence, the foreign minister and the head of Libya’s external security organization.

Until now, he said, the serious episodes all involved attacks against civilians by government-led forces. But he warned that “some opposition groups also have weapons. If they commit crimes, their leaders will also be investigated.”

Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said his office in recent days had been inundated with reports from inside and outside the Libya. “Today I even received a letter from the lawyer of the Qaddafi family. He asked that the investigation be fair,” the prosecutor said.

By: New York Times

Title: International Criminal Court Begins Libya Inquiry.

MI: THE HAGUE — The International Criminal Court has started a formal investigation into possible crimes against humanity in Libyathat will focus on the role of the country’s leader, Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi, several of his sons and members of his inner circle, the chief prosecutor said Thursday.

MSI: Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the prosecutor, said his office had received confirmation that Libyan security forces had fired on peaceful demonstrators, killing hundreds, and that many had been illegally detained in episodes involving at least nine different towns since Feb. 15.

ING: killing, involving, judging, adding, working, including, imposing, banning, freezing, putting.

Referent:  his, his, his, he, he, he, that, he, his, he, that, this, his, he, he, that, they, their, his, he, he, that, they, their, his, I, he, that.

 Traducción:

  La Corte Penal Internacional ha iniciado una investigación formal sobre posibles crímenes contra la humanidad en Libya que se centrará en el rol de líder del país, el coronel Muammar el-Gadafi, varios de sus hijos y los miembros de su círculo íntimo, dijo el fiscal jefe el jueves.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, el fiscal, dijo que su oficina había recibido confirmación de que las fuerzas de seguridad libias habían disparado contra los manifestantes pacíficos, matando a cientos, y que muchos habían sido detenidos ilegalmente en los episodios involucrando al menos nueve ciudades diferentes, desde el 15 de febrero.

También dijo en una entrevista que, a juzgar por la información que había recibido, muchos más privilegiados del gobierno libio habían desertado de lo que se conoce públicamente. "El sistema parece estar desapareciendo,"dijo, agregando que los informes sobre los acontecimientos recientes y el funcionamiento interno del gobierno habían llegado de diversas fuentes."No podemos dar nombres para proteger a las familias", dijo.

En una votación unánime el sábado, el Consejo de Seguridad de las Naciones Unidas encomendó a la fiscal internacional para investigar la violencia en Libia, y aprobó una serie de otras medidas como la imposición de un embargo de armas en el país, la prohibición de viajes internacionales de 16 líderes de Libia y la congelación de los activos del coronel Gadafi y los miembros de su familia.

Mientras que la investigación penal y las sanciones internacionales se esperan que tomen semanas para tener algún efecto, ellos reflejan la amplia condena de la represión sangrienta en Libia contra los manifestantes antigubernamentales.

El Sr. Moreno-Ocampo dijo que esperaba que en esta etapa sus acciones podrían tener un efecto disuasorio. Él dijo que estaba poniendo los altos funcionarios en Libia - "las personas con autoridad formal o de facto" -sobre aviso de que podrían ser considerados responsables si las fuerzas bajo su mando cometieron crimenes.

Además del coronel Gadafi y sus hijos, el fiscal espera para investigar a los jefes de seguridad y de inteligencia militar, el ministro de Relaciones Exteriores y el jefe de la organización de la seguridad exterior de Libia.

Hasta ahora, dijo, todos los episodios graves que incluyen ataques contra civiles por las fuerzas dirigidas por el gobierno. Sin embargo, advirtió que "algunos grupos de la oposición también tienen armas. Sicometen delitos, sus líderes también serán investigados. "
El Sr. Moreno-Ocampo dijo que su oficina en los últimos días había sido inundada con los informes de dentro y fuera de Libia. "Hoy he recibido, incluso, una carta del abogado de la familia Gadafi. Pidió que la investigación sea justa", dijo el fiscal.