LIBYA: International Criminal Court prosecutor says Saif al-Islam Gaddafi could be tried in Libya if the country's own justice system is up to the task

Record ID: 346420

  • Title: LIBYA: International Criminal Court prosecutor says Saif al-Islam Gaddafi could be tried in Libya if the country's own justice system is up to the task
  • Date: 23rd November 2011
  • Summary: TRIPOLI, LIBYA (NOVEMBER 22, 2011) (REUTERS) ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO OCAMPO WALKING IN AIRPORT WITH LIBYA'S INTERIM JUSTICE MINISTER MOHAMMED AL-ALAGY VARIOUS OF ALAGY AND OCAMPO AT MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO OCAMPO, SAYING: "Saif is captured so we are here to ensure cooperation. Now in May, we requested an arrest warrant because Libyans could not do justice in Libya. Now as Libyans are decided to do justice, they could do justice and we will help them to do it, so that is the system. Our International Criminal Court acts when the national system cannot act. They have decided to do it and that is why we are here to learn and to understand what they are doing and to cooperate." OCAMPO AND ALAGY MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO OCAMPO, SAYING: "The laws says the primacy is for the national system. If they prosecute the case here, we will discuss with them how to inform the judges and they can do it. But our judges have to be involved, they have to understand and then they could do it, that's a rule. The system is that the national system has the primacy. Of course in May in Libya it was not possible to prosecute Saif Gaddafi, that is why the International Criminal Court intervened but now it is different, so we are here to learn." MORE OF OCAMPO AND ALAGY IN MEETING (SOUNDBITE) (English) ICC CHIEF PROSECUTOR LUIS MORENO OCAMPO, SAYING: "We deal with the national authorities, they are in charge so it is not my role to meet him, so I will listen to the national authorities." MEDIA AT END OF MEETING
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2011 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Libya, Libya
  • Country: Libya
  • Topics: Conflict,Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAZZO826G1YBMEKIN30RUBEQU7
  • Story Text: The International Criminal Court prosecutor said on Tuesday (November 22) that Saif al-Islam Gaddafi, the captured son of the former Libyan leader, does not necessarily have to be tried in The Hague if Libya's own justice system proves itself capable.
    Luis Moreno-Ocampo told reporters on his arrival at Tripoli International Airport that he was not planning to meet Saif al-Islam. Gaddafi's son, who was captured in southern Libya at the weekend, is wanted by the ICC for crimes against humanity.
    "Saif is captured so we are here to ensure cooperation. Now in May, we requested an arrest warrant because Libyans could not do justice in Libya. Now as Libyans are decided to do justice, they could do justice and well help them to do it, so that is the system. Our International Criminal Court acts when the national system cannot act. They have decided to do it and that is why we are here to learn and to understand what they are doing and to cooperate," said Ocampo.
    The ICC prosecutor said he would not meet Saif al-Islam during his visit to Libya.
    "We deal with the national authorities, they are in charge so it is not my role to meet him, so I will listen to the national authorities," he said.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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