Libyan leader Col Gaddafi is officially accused of personally ordering attacks on civilians
Elena Vnorovscaia / Chişinău / Moldova.ORG / --International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Muammar Gaddafi. The ICC had accused him of crimes against humanity and of ordering attacks on civilians after an uprising against him began in February. Thousands of people are believed to have been killed in the conflict.
The court had evidence that Col Gaddafi had "personally ordered attacks on unarmed Libyan civilians and was behind the arrest and torture of his political opponents.
The Libyan authorities have previously said they do not recognize the court and were not concerned or bothered by the threat of this warrant.
The Hague-based court also issued warrants for two of Col Gaddafi's top aides - his son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanussi. These three men are believed to be responsible for "widespread and systematic attacks" on civilians.
ICC presiding judge Sanji Monageng said there were "reasonable grounds to believe" that Col Gaddafi and his son were "criminally responsible as indirect co-perpetrators" for the persecution and murder of civilians in Libya.
The UK Foreign Secretary, Mr. Hague, called on people within the Libyan regime to abandon Gaddafi and said those responsible for "atrocities" must be held to account.
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