NETHERLANDS: International Criminal Court says it has enough evidence to prosecute Darfur crimes

Record ID: 721268

  • Title: NETHERLANDS: International Criminal Court says it has enough evidence to prosecute Darfur crimes
  • Date: 24th November 2006
  • Summary: (BN13 ) DARFUR, SUDAN (FILE) (REUTERS) JANJAWEED MILITIA RIDING AWAY ON CAMEL
  • Embargoed: 9th December 2006 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Netherlands
  • Country: Netherlands
  • Topics: International Relations
  • Reuters ID: LVAAOE5LGANKVIQUAQENGL00ODAN
  • Story Text: The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor has nearly completed an investigation into war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region and has sufficient evidence to file charges soon, he said on Thursday (November 23).
    Luis Moreno-Ocampo told a meeting of the court's member states that he has identified the gravest incidents and who is responsible.
    Tens of thousands of people have been killed and 2.5 million forced from their homes in three years of conflict in Darfur, a remote region of western Sudan where the U.S. government says genocide is taking place. Khartoum rejects the charge.
    Moreno-Ocampo said the crimes committed include persecution, torture, rape and murder, but did not say who might be charged. He said the conflict had made the work of his investigators very difficult, but they had still gathered enough evidence.
    Before the prosecution submits the evidence to ICC judges, the office of the prosecutor will assess whether Sudan's government is conducting its own judicial proceedings on the same incidents and persons, Moreno-Ocampo said.
    He hopes to have collected this information by the beginning of December.
    Under the treaty that set up the ICC in 2002, the Hague-based court cannot prosecute suspects who have already been tried in fair trials in their home countries.
  • Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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