THE HAGUE, Netherlands, March 3 (UPI) -- The International Criminal Court will investigate Libyan violence and crimes against humanity allegations against its government, the court's prosecutor said.
"There will be no impunity in Libya," Luis Moreno-Ocampo told a news briefing in The Hague, Netherlands, where the Court is based. "No one has authority to attack and massacre civilians."
Moreno-Ocampo's announcement came a few days after the U.N. Security Council asked the ICC to look into allegations of violent repression of protesters seeking the ouster of leader Moammar Gadhafi, the court said in a release.
The United Nations said more than 1,000 people are reported to have been killed and many more injured as Gadhafi's loyalists reportedly opened fire on the peaceful protesters. Gadhafi has denied his supporters or government security forces fired on unarmed citizens, blaming the chaos on al-Qaida operatives or outsiders.
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Moreno-Ocampo said his investigation would look into several incidents that have taken place since Feb. 15 across Libya.
"During the coming weeks, the office (of the prosecutor) will investigate who are the most responsible for the most serious crimes committed in Libya," he said.
He said his office has identified some individuals who had either de facto or formal authority on the security forces that allegedly committed the crimes, including Gadhafi and his circle of advisers. He also warned that authority figures who did nothing to prevent the alleged crimes also could be held responsible.
"We'd like to use this opportunity to put them on notice," Moreno-Ocampo said. "If forces under their command and control commit crimes, they could be criminally responsible."
