Sudan/ICC

Kadhafi says ICC represents "new world terrorism" as Beshir travels to Qatar

Article published on the 2009-03-29 Latest update 2009-03-30 09:39 TU

African Union chairman Moamer Kadhafi welcomes Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir to Libya on 26 March 2009.
(Photo: Reuters)

Libyan leader and chairman of the African Union, Moamer Kadhafi, described the International Criminal Court as representing a “new world terrorism” on Sunday, as he defended Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir, who has been indicted for war crimes.

Kadhafi, who was elected as the head of the African Union in February this year, condemned the ICC’s warrant during a press conference in Addis Ababa.

“It’s public knowledge that third-world countries oppose this so-called International Criminal Court, because it’s not treating people equally,” said Kadhafi.

He believes that the ICC is biased and explained that it targets certain countries unfairly.

“This court is against countries that were colonised in the past, and they want to re-colonise now,” he said.

“It’s unjust that some heads of state can be arrested […] we should also arrest those who are responsible for the killing of hundreds of thousands of people, including children, in Iraq and Gaza,” Kadhafi added.

Following Beshir’s indictment in March, a number of African countries have called for the warrant to be suspended. And on Saturday Libya’s foreign minister suggested that African countries should pull out of the Rome Statute – the treaty which established the ICC.

Kadhafi will join Beshir and other Arab leaders at the Doha summit on Monday and Tuesday, after the Sudanese President travelled to Qatar on Sunday, despite a warning from Sudan’s religious authority, the Committee of Muslim Scholars, urging him not to attend.