‘Game over’ in months for Gaddafi

THE International Criminal Court’s (ICC) chief prosecutor said yesterday it could be “game over” within months for Muammar Gaddafi, who is wanted on charges of crimes against humanity.

“Today, it is time for arrests,” Luis Moreno-Ocampo told reporters in The Hague, a day after the ICC approved warrants for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi.

“It is a matter of time... Gaddafi will face charges. The arrest warrants are not going away,” he said. “I don’t think we will have to wait for long... In two or three months it is game over.”

Prosecutors allege the three men were involved in the killing of civilian protesters who rose up in February against Gaddafi’s 41-year rule.

However, China stopped short of condemning or endorsing the court’s action.

“China hopes the ICC can prudently, justly and objectively carry out its duties, and ensure that its relevant work genuinely aids regional peace and stability,” foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.

China has denounced the ICC’s war crimes indictment of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who is currently on a state visit in Beijing. He and Gaddafi are the only sitting heads of state facing warrants from the court.

Beijing generally avoids entangling itself in the domestic affairs of other nations and has been sceptical about the NATO military operation to shore up rebels fighting Gaddafi.

But foreign minister Yang Jiechi told Libyan rebel leaders last week they had become an “important domestic political force” in the country.

NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said the ICC arrest warrants demonstrated why NATO — which has been riven by disputes over a costly operation that has dragged on longer than some foresaw — must continue until it fulfils its UN mandate.

“The arrest warrants are yet another signal from the international community to the Gaddafi regime: ‘Your place is on trial, not in power in Tripoli’,” she said, adding that it was not up to NATO to enforce the warrant.

Bulgaria and Croatia added their names yesterday to the list of now 21 countries who have recognised the rebel National Transitional Council as the sole legitimate representative of the Libyan people.

In the past few days, rebels pushed to within 80km of the capital Tripoli, Gaddafi’s main power base.