ICC to update U.N. on Libyan war crimes

THE HAGUE, Netherlands, April 28 (UPI) -- The chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court said Thursday he will report to the United Nations in May on alleged Libyan war crimes.

U.N. Security Council Resolution 1970, passed in February, referred Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi to the ICC for allegedly ordering attacks on unarmed civilians.

The ICC announced Thursday that ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is to update the Security Council on progress made in the "investigation into allegations of crimes against humanity and war crimes" in Libya.

The United Nations announced that a three-member team arrived in Libya to investigate alleged human rights abuses that occurred since Gadhafi sent his forces to respond to the unrest that began in February.

The United Nations' Human Rights Council is expected to review the panel's findings in June.

A subsequent measure, Resolution 1973, authorized U.N. member states take "all necessary measures" to protect civilians from attack by forces loyal to Gadhafi.

European countries are leading the military response in Libya. France, Italy and Great Britain announced they were sending military liaisons to rebel-held territory in Libya as part of their intervention. The United States has sent unmanned armed drones to the fight.