Brussels, 21/11/2011 (Agence Europe) - On 19 November, the high representative of the EU for foreign affairs called on the Libyan authorities to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC), following the arrest of Colonel Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, who is accused of having committed war crimes. Catherine Ashton described the capture as a “significant development”. She underlined that “continuing cooperation with the International Criminal Court should be assured”. She said that it is of “utmost importance” that Saif al-Islam's due process rights be guaranteed so that he can be delivered to justice “in accordance with Libya's international obligations and the National Transitional Council's public commitments to respect the rule of law”. The European high representative pointed out that “it is essential for national reconciliation and Libya's future stability that those responsible for human rights violations committed both before and during the recent conflict are brought to justice and that the facts surrounding such violations are brought to light.”
France and the United Kingdom have also demanded that Saif Al-Islam be taken to the International Court of Justice, which has issued an international warrant for his arrest. On 19 November, the French minister for foreign affairs, declared that “we have again given our encouragement to the NTC to fully cooperate with the ICC and to ensure that Saif al-Islam receives a fair trial”. The British foreign affairs minister, William Hague, explained that Saif al Islam must be made accountable for his acts during a trial, including a trial at the International Criminal Court. He added that his country was prepared to help the Libyan government and the NTC bring Saif al-Islam to justice. Their German and Italian counterparts, Giulio Terzi and Guido Westerwelle, urged the Libyan authorities on Sunday 20 November to ensure that Saif al-Islam receive a fair trial in compliance with international standards.
On Sunday 20 November, the Libyan authorities announced that the son of Muammar Gaddafi would be tried in Libya. The justice minister, Mohammed al-Allagui, said that “we want the trial of Saif al-Islam to take place in Libya because local justice is the rule and international justice, the exception”. (CG/transl.fl)