ICC seeks to probe war crimes in Afghanistan

THE HAGUE: The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court will seek approval to open a for mal investigation into allegations of war crimes in Afghanistan.

Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda said yesterday there was a “reasonable basis to believe” war crimes and crimes against humanity had been committed. The prosecutor did not mention any specific parties to be investigated. Last year, she said there were preliminary grounds to believe US forces had committed war crimes in Afghanistan and at secret “dark site” CIA detention facilities elsewhere in 2003 and 2004.

The prosecutor will focus on alle gations committed since May 1, 2003 in Afghanistan territory and war crimes closely linked to the situation in Afghanistan, allegedly committed since July 1, 2002 on the territory of other states.

If the request is granted by the court’s judges, the office of the prosecutor “will investigate, within its mandate, in an impartial way, crimes within the court’s jurisdiction allegedly committed by any party to the armed conflict.” – Reuters