Somali human rights groups back ICC probe

GENEVA, Switzerland, March 8 (UPI) -- Somali human rights groups and the International Criminal Court Sunday discussed ways to bring war criminals in Somalia to justice, observers said.

Ahmed Mohamed Ali of the Somali Human Rights Defenders Network said he and other leaders met with representatives of the ICC in Geneva, Switzerland, to discuss conflicts and war crimes committed in the East African nation, the Shabelle Media Network reported.

Ali, also known as Kiimiko, said the discussions were buoyed by a letter from U.N. Special Envoy to Somalia Ahmed Olad Abdallah stating he supports efforts to bring Somali war criminals to justice, the news service said.

Ould-Abdallah last month urged the U.N. Security Council to adopt a resolution permitting the ICC to look into war crimes committed by Somalis against their countrymen, U.N. officials said.