THE International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued an arrest warrant for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi for crimes against humanity committed against opponents of his regime since mid-February.Warrants were also issued for Saif al Islam Gaddafi, the leader's son and a key figure in the regime, and Gaddafi's head of intelligence, Abdullah al Senussi.
Judges said the three men were wanted for orchestrating the killing, injuring, arrest and imprisonment of hundreds of civilians during the first 12 days of an uprising to topple Gaddafi from power, and for trying to cover up the alleged crimes.
The warrants turn Gaddafi, his son Saif, and al Senussi into internationally wanted suspects, potentially complicating efforts to mediate an end to more than four months of intense fighting in the North African nation.
Presiding judge Sanji Monageng of Botswana said there were "reasonable grounds to believe'' that Gaddafi and his son are both "criminally responsible as indirect co-perpetrators'' for the murder and persecution of civilians.
She called Gaddafi the "undisputed leader of Libya'' who had "absolute, ultimate and unquestioned control'' over his country's military and security forces.