The International Criminal Court is investigating Libyan leader Muammar Qadhafi for crimes against humanity, the court’s chief prosecutor said on Thursday.
Also under investigation are Col. Qadhafi’s sons and his head of security, among others, Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said.
“We have a mandate to do justice and we will do it. There will be no impunity in Libya,” Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said.
The probe is linked to Col. Qadhafi’s ongoing crackdown on anti-regime protesters.
Mr. Moreno-Ocampo said ICC judges would have to decide whether to endorse any international arrest warrants.
In an earlier interview with Spanish daily El Pais , Mr. Moreno-Ocampo had said that “speed is vital” because “very serious crimes continue being committed.”
“We will make sure justice is done and that those responsible for the repression, for attacks against the civilian population, will be pursued and punished,” he added.
On Saturday, the United Nations Security Council had adopted a resolution imposing sanctions against Libya and referring the situation to the ICC, thus granting the court formal jurisdiction over alleged crimes committed by Col. Qadhafi and his associates.