ICC says Gadhafi's son Saif trying to escape

NEW YORK, Nov. 3 (UPI) -- The International Criminal Court says cooperation from U.N. member states is needed to prevent the escape of Saif al-Islam Gadhafi from Libya.

There are reports a group of mercenaries is attempting to facilitate the escape of Gadhafi, a son of the late dictator Moammar Gadhafi, the chief prosecutor of the ICC said this week.

"We are calling upon [U.N.] states to do all they can to disrupt any such operation," Luis Moreno-Ocampo told the U.N. Security Council in New York.

The ICC issued arrest warrants for the slain dictator, his son Saif and the country's intelligence chief, Abdullah al-Sanousi, for their roles in attacks against protesters and rebels during the pro-democracy movement that rose up against the regime this year.

Moreno-Ocampo said last week his office is in indirect contact with Saif on his possible surrender to face charges for crimes against humanity, and the ICC office was exploring the possibility of intercepting any plane within the airspace of a U.N. member state to make an arrest in the event of an attempted escape.

"It is up to the U.N. Security Council and states to ensure that they face justice for the crimes for which they are charged," Moreno-Ocampo said Tuesday.