Rights lawyers seek ICC probe into Libyan military leader

A woman holds a poster of Libya's eastern-based commander Khalifa Haftar during a rally in support of Haftar and the Libyan National Army (LNA) in Benghazi, Libya. (Reuters)

THE HAGUE, Netherlands: Human rights lawyers have presented evidence to International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutors alleging that forces loyal to a key player in Libya’s ongoing power struggle are responsible for crimes including murder, torture and persecution.
Tuesday’s filing is the latest account of atrocities committed in the fighting that has plagued Libya since Muammar Qaddafi was ousted in 2011.
Toby Cadman of the Guernica 37 International Justice Chambers has presented to the court a dossier, including witness statements, seeking an investigation into the role of Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar and his forces in the alleged abuses.
Haftar leads forces in eastern Libya who are loyal to an eastern Parliament but at odds with UN-backed authorities in Tripoli.
A spokesman for Haftar could not immediately be reached for comment.