After US President Donald Trump threatened the International Criminal Court (ICC) of sanctions if they carry out investigations against US troops, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed his support for this move on Thursday.&nbsp;

Watch |&nbsp;

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"This court is politicised and obsessed with carrying out a headhunt against Israel and the United States as well as other democratic countries that respect human rights, but turns a blind eye to the world's worst human rights offenders, including the terrorist regime in Iran," Netanyahu said.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/trump-authorises-sanctions-over-icc-afghanistan-war-crimes-case-305171">Trump authorises sanctions over ICC Afghanistan war crimes case</a>

Earlier on Thursday, Trump passed an executive order to block all property and assets in the US of anyone involved in investigating or prosecuting American forces.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US administration would not let its forces be "threatened by a kangaroo court".

The Trump administration has been furious with ICC over its probe into alleged atrocities in Afghanistan, the longest-running war of the US.&nbsp;

In December 2019, when Hague-based court's chief prosecutor said of opening a full probe into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian regions, sharp reactions were seen from Israel and the US.

Both the US and Israel, its main Middle East ally, have refused to sign up to the ICC since its formation in 2002.&nbsp;

(With inputs from AFP)

After US President Donald Trump threatened the International Criminal Court (ICC) of sanctions if they carry out investigations against US troops, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed his support for this move on Thursday.

After US President Donald Trump threatened the International Criminal Court (ICC) of sanctions if they carry out investigations against US troops, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu showed his support for this move on Thursday. Watch | "This court is politicised and obsessed with carrying out a headhunt against Israel and the United States as well as other democratic countries that respect human rights, but turns a blind eye to the world's worst human rights offenders, including the terrorist regime in Iran," Netanyahu said. Also read | Trump authorises sanctions over ICC Afghanistan war crimes case Earlier on Thursday, Trump passed an executive order to block all property and assets in the US of anyone involved in investigating or prosecuting American forces. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said that the US administration would not let its forces be "threatened by a kangaroo court". The Trump administration has been furious with ICC over its probe into alleged atrocities in Afghanistan, the longest-running war of the US. In December 2019, when Hague-based court's chief prosecutor said of opening a full probe into alleged war crimes in the Palestinian regions, sharp reactions were seen from Israel and the US. Both the US and Israel, its main Middle East ally, have refused to sign up to the ICC since its formation in 2002. (With inputs from AFP)

Benjamin Netanyahu backs Donald Trump's threat to impose sanctions on ICC

US President Donald Trump has announced hefty sanctions on International Criminal Court (ICC) officials investigating abuses by Americans and Israelis.

WION Fineprint: US imposes sanctions on ICC officials

International war crimes judges will rule on Thursday whether a probe into wartime abuses in Afghanistan will go ahead, including possible atrocities committed by US forces.

The International Criminal Court last year rejected a demand by its chief prosecutor to look into crimes committed in the war-torn nation an investigation also bitterly opposed by Washington.

The court's judges in The Hague are now set to decide on an appeal by prosecutors against the initial decision.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/afghan-victims-ask-icc-to-open-afghan-war-crimes-investigation-on-appeal-266243">Afghan victims ask ICC to open Afghan war crimes investigation on appeal</a>

In 2006, the ICC's prosecutors opened a preliminary probe into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the central Asian nation since 2003.

In 2017, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda asked judges to allow a full-blown probe, not only into Taliban and Afghan government personnel but also international forces, US troops and members of the Central Intelligence Agency.

But pre-trial judges said it "would not serve the interests of justice" and that the court should focus on cases with a better chance of success.

While US officials hailed the decision, human rights groups said it was a blow to thousands of the victims and ICC prosecutors appealed.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/icc-judges-turn-down-request-for-afghanistan-war-crimes-probe-209863">ICC judges turn down request for Afghanistan war crimes probe</a>

Should Bensouda lose, she is allowed to ask again for an investigation if "new facts or evidence regarding the same situation" emerge, according to the ICC's statute.

Bensouda's move also unleashed a backlash from Washington, which in April last year revoked the Gambian-born chief prosecutor's visa as part of broader restrictions on ICC staff probing American or allied personnel.

Former national security advisor John Bolton warned in 2018 that the US would arrest ICC judges if the court pursued an Afghan probe.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/us-taliban-peace-deal-what-does-it-mean-for-afghanistan-and-other-stakeholders-283743">US-Taliban peace deal: What does it mean for Afghanistan and other stakeholders</a>

The US has never joined the ICC and does not recognise its authority over American citizens, saying it poses a threat to national sovereignty.

Washington argues that it has its own procedures in place to deal with US troops who engage in misconduct.

Afghanistan also opposes the inquiry, saying the country itself had "responsibility to bring justice for our nation and for our people".

The ICC's ruling comes days after Taliban militants killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers and policemen in a string of overnight attacks, throwing the country's nascent peace process into grave doubt.

Under the terms of a recent US-Taliban agreement, foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees and a pledge by the insurgents to hold talks with Kabul.

A US-led force invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 terror attacks in the US, targeting Al-Qaeda in the sanctuaries provided by the Taliban government.

Fighting has continued ever since last year more than 3,400 civilians were killed and almost 7,000 injured, according to data provided by UN agencies.

International war crimes judges will rule on Thursday whether a probe into wartime abuses in Afghanistan will go ahead, including possible atrocities committed by US forces.

International war crimes judges will rule on Thursday whether a probe into wartime abuses in Afghanistan will go ahead, including possible atrocities committed by US forces. The International Criminal Court last year rejected a demand by its chief prosecutor to look into crimes committed in the war-torn nation an investigation also bitterly opposed by Washington. The court's judges in The Hague are now set to decide on an appeal by prosecutors against the initial decision. Also read: Afghan victims ask ICC to open Afghan war crimes investigation on appeal In 2006, the ICC's prosecutors opened a preliminary probe into possible war crimes and crimes against humanity in the central Asian nation since 2003. In 2017, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda asked judges to allow a full-blown probe, not only into Taliban and Afghan government personnel but also international forces, US troops and members of the Central Intelligence Agency. But pre-trial judges said it "would not serve the interests of justice" and that the court should focus on cases with a better chance of success. While US officials hailed the decision, human rights groups said it was a blow to thousands of the victims and ICC prosecutors appealed. Also read: ICC judges turn down request for Afghanistan war crimes probe Should Bensouda lose, she is allowed to ask again for an investigation if "new facts or evidence regarding the same situation" emerge, according to the ICC's statute. Bensouda's move also unleashed a backlash from Washington, which in April last year revoked the Gambian-born chief prosecutor's visa as part of broader restrictions on ICC staff probing American or allied personnel. Former national security advisor John Bolton warned in 2018 that the US would arrest ICC judges if the court pursued an Afghan probe. Also read: US-Taliban peace deal: What does it mean for Afghanistan and other stakeholders The US has never joined the ICC and does not recognise its authority over American citizens, saying it poses a threat to national sovereignty. Washington argues that it has its own procedures in place to deal with US troops who engage in misconduct. Afghanistan also opposes the inquiry, saying the country itself had "responsibility to bring justice for our nation and for our people". The ICC's ruling comes days after Taliban militants killed at least 20 Afghan soldiers and policemen in a string of overnight attacks, throwing the country's nascent peace process into grave doubt. Under the terms of a recent US-Taliban agreement, foreign forces will quit Afghanistan within 14 months, subject to Taliban security guarantees and a pledge by the insurgents to hold talks with Kabul. A US-led force invaded Afghanistan in 2001 following the 9/11 terror attacks in the US, targeting Al-Qaeda in the sanctuaries provided by the Taliban government. Fighting has continued ever since last year more than 3,400 civilians were killed and almost 7,000 injured, according to data provided by UN agencies.

War crimes judges to rule on International Criminal Court probe in Afghanistan

Just hours after the judges at the International Criminal Court(ICC) ruled that the prosecution&nbsp;can open an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the investigation with respect to US personnel is "illegitimate and unjustified".

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/probe-into-afghan-war-crime-abuses-must-go-ahead-international-criminal-court-284558">Also Read:&nbsp;Probe into Afghan war crime abuses must go ahead: International Criminal Court</a>

"The United States will take the necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and to protect our people," Pompeo asserted.

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An <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ICC?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ICC</a> investigation with respect to U.S. personnel is illegitimate and unjustified. The United States will take the necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and to protect our people.
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The International Criminal Court judge asserted today that possible atrocities committed by US forces should also be investigated. The probe which began in 2006 included alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan since 2003.

Three years ago, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had asked judges for a full probe which included not just the Taliban and Afghanistan government personnel but also by US troops and the CIA.

The US authorities, however, had resisted moves by the ICC with US ex-national security advisor John Bolton warning two years ago that US would arrest ICC judges if the court pursued the probe.

The US hasn't joined the investigation and does not recognise its authority.

"This is a truly breathtaking action by an unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body," Pompeo told a news conference after the ICC verdict.

"All the more reckless for this ruling to come just days after the United States signed a historic peace deal on Afghanistan, which is the best chance for peace in a generation," he said.

"We're going to take all the appropriate actions to ensure that American citizens are not hauled before this political body to settle a political vendetta," Pompeo added.

ICC prosecutors had said earlier their investigation would include alleged war crimes by the CIA at detention facilities, referred to as "black sites" in ICC member countries like Lithuania, Poland and Romania.

At least 24 suspects were allegedly subjected to torture at the secret prisons between 2003-2004, the prosecutors claimed.

Just hours after the judges at the International Criminal Court(ICC) ruled that the prosecution can open an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the investigation with respect to US personnel is "illegitimate and unjustified".

Just hours after the judges at the International Criminal Court(ICC) ruled that the prosecution can open an investigation into alleged war crimes committed in Afghanistan, US secretary of state Mike Pompeo said the investigation with respect to US personnel is "illegitimate and unjustified". Also Read: Probe into Afghan war crime abuses must go ahead: International Criminal Court "The United States will take the necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and to protect our people," Pompeo asserted. An #ICC investigation with respect to U.S. personnel is illegitimate and unjustified. The United States will take the necessary steps to protect its sovereignty and to protect our people. — Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) March 5, 2020 × The International Criminal Court judge asserted today that possible atrocities committed by US forces should also be investigated. The probe which began in 2006 included alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan since 2003. Three years ago, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had asked judges for a full probe which included not just the Taliban and Afghanistan government personnel but also by US troops and the CIA. The US authorities, however, had resisted moves by the ICC with US ex-national security advisor John Bolton warning two years ago that US would arrest ICC judges if the court pursued the probe. The US hasn't joined the investigation and does not recognise its authority. "This is a truly breathtaking action by an unaccountable political institution masquerading as a legal body," Pompeo told a news conference after the ICC verdict. "All the more reckless for this ruling to come just days after the United States signed a historic peace deal on Afghanistan, which is the best chance for peace in a generation," he said. "We're going to take all the appropriate actions to ensure that American citizens are not hauled before this political body to settle a political vendetta," Pompeo added. ICC prosecutors had said earlier their investigation would include alleged war crimes by the CIA at detention facilities, referred to as "black sites" in ICC member countries like Lithuania, Poland and Romania. At least 24 suspects were allegedly subjected to torture at the secret prisons between 2003-2004, the prosecutors claimed.

International Criminal Court's decision on US troops illegitimate and unjustified: Pompeo

The International Criminal Court(ICC)&nbsp;judge asserted today that possible atrocities committed by US forces should also be investigated.

"The prosecutor is authorised to commence an investigation into alleged crimes committed on the territory of Afghanistan since May 1, 2003," International Criminal Court judge Piotr Hofmanski said. 
 
The probe which began in 2006 included alleged&nbsp;war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan since 2003.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/war-crimes-judges-to-rule-on-international-criminal-court-probe-in-afghanistan-284409">War crimes judges to rule on International Criminal Court probe in Afghanistan</a>

Three years ago, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had asked judges for a full probe which included not just the Taliban and Afghanistan government personnel but also by US troops and the CIA. 
 
The US authorities, however, had resisted moves by the ICC with US ex-national security advisor John Bolton warning two years ago that US would arrest ICC judges if the court pursued the probe.

The US hasn't joined the investigation and does not recognise its authority.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/us-taliban-peace-deal-what-does-it-mean-for-afghanistan-and-other-stakeholders-283743">US-Taliban peace deal: What does it mean for Afghanistan and other stakeholders</a> 
 
The ICC's view&nbsp;comes amid the US-Taliban peace deal which has seen large cracks in the past week with the Taliban resuming attacks on government forces after President Ghani refused to free Taliban prisoners. 
 
Under the US-Taliban agreement, US troops will quit Afghanistan within 14 months subject to the Taliban opening talks with the Kabul government and keeping the peace in the country.

The International Criminal Court(ICC) judge asserted today that possible atrocities committed by US forces should also be investigated. "The prosecutor is authorised to commence an investigation into alleged crimes committed on the territory of Afghanistan since May 1, 2003," International Criminal Court judge Piotr Hofmanski said.

The International Criminal Court(ICC) judge asserted today that possible atrocities committed by US forces should also be investigated. "The prosecutor is authorised to commence an investigation into alleged crimes committed on the territory of Afghanistan since May 1, 2003," International Criminal Court judge Piotr Hofmanski said. The probe which began in 2006 included alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan since 2003. Also read: War crimes judges to rule on International Criminal Court probe in Afghanistan Three years ago, chief prosecutor Fatou Bensouda had asked judges for a full probe which included not just the Taliban and Afghanistan government personnel but also by US troops and the CIA. The US authorities, however, had resisted moves by the ICC with US ex-national security advisor John Bolton warning two years ago that US would arrest ICC judges if the court pursued the probe. The US hasn't joined the investigation and does not recognise its authority. Also read: US-Taliban peace deal: What does it mean for Afghanistan and other stakeholders The ICC's view comes amid the US-Taliban peace deal which has seen large cracks in the past week with the Taliban resuming attacks on government forces after President Ghani refused to free Taliban prisoners. Under the US-Taliban agreement, US troops will quit Afghanistan within 14 months subject to the Taliban opening talks with the Kabul government and keeping the peace in the country.

Probe into Afghan war crime abuses must go ahead: International Criminal Court

Sudan has agreed to hand ousted autocrat Omar al-Bashir and others to the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes in Darfur. Omar has, however, refused to deal with ICC as it is a "political court". Watch report:

Fineprint: Omar al-Bashir refuses to appear before ICC

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/with-eight-months-from-tokyo-2020-venue-preparations-enter-final-stretch-263688">Tokyo</a>-based human rights activists on Wednesday decried recent remarks by Japan's ambassador to Yangon, who told local media he did not think the Myanmar military committed genocide on the Rohingya Muslim minority in the country.

Also see:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/fields-of-dreams-tokyo-2020s-major-sites-202797#tokyo-2020-202795">Fields of dreams: Tokyo 2020's major sites</a>&nbsp;

More than 730,000 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/the-rohingya-crisis-what-to-watch-for-in-2019-187973">Rohingya</a> fled the Southeast Asian nation to&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;in 2017 after a military-led crackdown.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="The Rohingya crisis: What to watch for in 2019">The Rohingya crisis</a>

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-becomes-fourth-nation-to-pay-un-dues-on-time-world-body-thanks-new-delhi-273780">United Nations</a> has said the campaign was executed with "genocidal intent" and included mass killings and rape.

The military offensive has sparked a series of ongoing legal cases filed in recent months at courts across the globe, including the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-accuses-icc-of-anti-semitism-in-pursuit-of-war-crimes-probe-269630">International Criminal Court</a> (ICC) and the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/icc-to-probe-alleged-war-crimes-in-palestinian-territories-269444">International Court of Justice</a> (ICJ), both based in the Hague.

Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/netanyahu-accuses-icc-of-anti-semitism-in-pursuit-of-war-crimes-probe-269630">Netanyahu accuses international court of anti-semitism in war crimes probe</a>

Zaw Min Htut, vice president of an advocacy group, Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan, said the ambassador's remarks were "disturbing".

"I am very disappointed and appealing again to the Japanese government. Please try to help Rohingya people and don't side with criminals," Zaw Min Htut told foreign correspondents in Tokyo.

"Today the Japanese government do not even cooperate, not supporting U.N. actions on Myanmar," he said.

His group supports about 250 Rohingya based in Japan.

Ichiro Maruyama, the Japanese ambassador to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-adds-more-countries-to-visa-on-arrival-list-274031">Myanmar</a>, told local news website the Irrawaddy in December that he did not think the Myanmar military "committed genocide or (had the) intent of genocide". He was previously quoted by the same outlet as saying that potential trade sanctions on Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis would be "utter nonsense".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/united-nations-slams-myanmar-for-human-rights-abuses-of-rohingya-muslims-passes-resolutions-270753">United Nations slams Myanmar for human rights abuses of Rohingya Muslims, passes resolution</a>

The ICJ, the United Nations' highest court, will issue a decision on a request for emergency measures in a genocide case against Myanmar on Jan. 23, the Gambian Ministry of Justice said on Monday.

The mainly Muslim west African country filed a lawsuit in November, alleging Myanmar was committing "an ongoing genocide" against the Rohingya in the western state of Rakhine.

The Myanmar government has strongly disputed that conclusion, categorizing the military operation as a legitimate counter-terrorism response to attacks by Rohingya militants.

Japan's foreign ministry said it was not in a position to comment on the legal case at the ICJ because it is between "third parties".

"Ambassador Maruyama did not mean to prejudge findings or judgement of this ICJ case," the ministry told Reuters in a statement. "Rather, he merely expressed impression as a person working in the country, including showing an understanding of the complexity of the situations in Rakhine state."

Tokyo-based human rights activists on Wednesday decried recent remarks by Japan's ambassador to Yangon, who told local media he did not think the Myanmar military committed genocide on the Rohingya Muslim minority in the country.

Tokyo-based human rights activists on Wednesday decried recent remarks by Japan's ambassador to Yangon, who told local media he did not think the Myanmar military committed genocide on the Rohingya Muslim minority in the country. Also see: Fields of dreams: Tokyo 2020's major sites More than 730,000 Rohingya fled the Southeast Asian nation to Bangladesh in 2017 after a military-led crackdown. Also read: The Rohingya crisis The United Nations has said the campaign was executed with "genocidal intent" and included mass killings and rape. The military offensive has sparked a series of ongoing legal cases filed in recent months at courts across the globe, including the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ), both based in the Hague. Also read: Netanyahu accuses international court of anti-semitism in war crimes probe Zaw Min Htut, vice president of an advocacy group, Burmese Rohingya Association in Japan, said the ambassador's remarks were "disturbing". "I am very disappointed and appealing again to the Japanese government. Please try to help Rohingya people and don't side with criminals," Zaw Min Htut told foreign correspondents in Tokyo. "Today the Japanese government do not even cooperate, not supporting U.N. actions on Myanmar," he said. His group supports about 250 Rohingya based in Japan. Ichiro Maruyama, the Japanese ambassador to Myanmar, told local news website the Irrawaddy in December that he did not think the Myanmar military "committed genocide or (had the) intent of genocide". He was previously quoted by the same outlet as saying that potential trade sanctions on Myanmar over the Rohingya crisis would be "utter nonsense". Also read: United Nations slams Myanmar for human rights abuses of Rohingya Muslims, passes resolution The ICJ, the United Nations' highest court, will issue a decision on a request for emergency measures in a genocide case against Myanmar on Jan. 23, the Gambian Ministry of Justice said on Monday. The mainly Muslim west African country filed a lawsuit in November, alleging Myanmar was committing "an ongoing genocide" against the Rohingya in the western state of Rakhine. The Myanmar government has strongly disputed that conclusion, categorizing the military operation as a legitimate counter-terrorism response to attacks by Rohingya militants. Japan's foreign ministry said it was not in a position to comment on the legal case at the ICJ because it is between "third parties". "Ambassador Maruyama did not mean to prejudge findings or judgement of this ICJ case," the ministry told Reuters in a statement. "Rather, he merely expressed impression as a person working in the country, including showing an understanding of the complexity of the situations in Rakhine state."

Rights group denounces Japan envoy for 'disturbing' comments on Myanmar Rohingya

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the International Criminal Court of anti-semitism on Sunday over its chief prosecutor's plan to pursue a war crimes probe in the Palestinian Territories.

The right-wing leader - Benjamin Netanyahu -&nbsp;is fighting for his political life in a March <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/israel-heads-to-new-election-third-in-twelve-months-as-stalemate-continues-267768">election</a>, made the allegation against the international Criminal Court, with Judaism's holy Western Wall as a backdrop during a candle-lighting ceremony marking the start of the eight-day Hanukkah holiday.

"New edicts are being cast against the Jewish people - anti-semitic edicts by the International Criminal Court telling us that we, the Jews standing here next to this wall ... in this city, in this country, have no right to live here and that by doing so, we are committing a war crime," he said.

"Pure anti-semitism," Netanyahu said, raising an argument likely to strike a chord with many Israelis who believe that criticism, especially in Europe, of Israeli policies towards the Palestinians has its roots in anti-Jewish sentiment.

The Hague-based International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said on Friday she would launch a full investigation into alleged war crimes in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip as soon as the court's jurisdiction had been established.

Israel captured those areas in the 1967 Middle East war and withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005.

Bensouda's announcement opens the possibility of charges being filed against Israelis or Palestinians. Israeli media, however, largely portrayed it as a bid to subject Israeli leaders and military officers to arrest and trial if they travel overseas.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/benjamin-netanyahu-will-resign-from-other-ministries-but-will-remain-pm-lawyers-267872">Netanyahu</a>'s accusations appeared to be centred on a scenario in which Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where the Western Wall stands within the walled Old City, could be viewed by the court as war crimes.

ICC prosecutors have said a preliminary investigation on the West Bank focused on "reported settlement-related activities engaged in by Israeli authorities".

The Palestinians and many countries consider the settlements to be illegal. Israel disputes this, citing security needs and biblical and historical connections to the land.

The Palestinians have welcomed Bensouda's decision.

Netanyahu said on Friday the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/icc-to-probe-alleged-war-crimes-in-palestinian-territories-269444">ICC</a> had no jurisdiction to investigate events in the Palestinian Territories, arguing it could only examine petitions submitted by a sovereign state.

The ICC has the authority to hear cases of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the 123 countries that have signed up to it.

Israel has not joined the court but the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank, has done so. The Gaza Strip is run by the PA's rival, the Islamist Hamas group.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the International Criminal Court of anti-semitism on Sunday over its chief prosecutor's plan to pursue a war crimes probe in the Palestinian Territories.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu accused the International Criminal Court of anti-semitism on Sunday over its chief prosecutor's plan to pursue a war crimes probe in the Palestinian Territories. The right-wing leader - Benjamin Netanyahu - is fighting for his political life in a March election, made the allegation against the international Criminal Court, with Judaism's holy Western Wall as a backdrop during a candle-lighting ceremony marking the start of the eight-day Hanukkah holiday. "New edicts are being cast against the Jewish people - anti-semitic edicts by the International Criminal Court telling us that we, the Jews standing here next to this wall ... in this city, in this country, have no right to live here and that by doing so, we are committing a war crime," he said. "Pure anti-semitism," Netanyahu said, raising an argument likely to strike a chord with many Israelis who believe that criticism, especially in Europe, of Israeli policies towards the Palestinians has its roots in anti-Jewish sentiment. The Hague-based International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, said on Friday she would launch a full investigation into alleged war crimes in the West Bank, including East Jerusalem, and the Gaza Strip as soon as the court's jurisdiction had been established. Israel captured those areas in the 1967 Middle East war and withdrew troops and settlers from the Gaza Strip in 2005. Bensouda's announcement opens the possibility of charges being filed against Israelis or Palestinians. Israeli media, however, largely portrayed it as a bid to subject Israeli leaders and military officers to arrest and trial if they travel overseas. Netanyahu's accusations appeared to be centred on a scenario in which Israeli settlement activities in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, where the Western Wall stands within the walled Old City, could be viewed by the court as war crimes. ICC prosecutors have said a preliminary investigation on the West Bank focused on "reported settlement-related activities engaged in by Israeli authorities". The Palestinians and many countries consider the settlements to be illegal. Israel disputes this, citing security needs and biblical and historical connections to the land. The Palestinians have welcomed Bensouda's decision. Netanyahu said on Friday the ICC had no jurisdiction to investigate events in the Palestinian Territories, arguing it could only examine petitions submitted by a sovereign state. The ICC has the authority to hear cases of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed on the territory of the 123 countries that have signed up to it. Israel has not joined the court but the Palestinian Authority, which exercises limited self-rule in the occupied West Bank, has done so. The Gaza Strip is run by the PA's rival, the Islamist Hamas group.

Netanyahu accuses international court of anti-semitism in war crimes probe

Lawyers representing victims of the Afghanistan conflict on Wednesday urged the International Criminal Court to allow a war crimes investigation that would include scrutinizing the actions of US&nbsp;forces.

ICC judges in April rejected the request of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to examine atrocities allegedly committed in the conflict between 2003 and 2004, including by US&nbsp;troops, Afghan forces and the Taliban.

Judges argued that a successful prosecution was unlikely.

The prosecution has appealed that decision and is arguing the case in three days of hearings before a panel of appeals judges in The Hague.

Lawyer Fergal Gaynor called the hearings "a historic day for accountability in Afghanistan". The 82 victims he represented were "united" in wanting an investigation, he said.

US&nbsp;forces and other foreign troops intervened in Afghanistan in 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States and overthrew the Taliban government, which had been protecting al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. In what has become the United States' longest war, about 13,000 US&nbsp;troops remain there.

More than 32,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict, according to the United Nations.

Later on Wednesday, one of US&nbsp;President Donald Trump's personal lawyers will address the court.

Counsel Jay Sekulow, who was allowed to file a "friend of the court" brief as an independent expert, said in a statement that he intends to defend the interests of members of the US&nbsp;military "who sacrifice everything to defend us".

Trump has denounced the ICC, the world's only permanent war crimes court, for its "broad, unaccountable, prosecutorial powers". Washington revoked US&nbsp;travel visas for ICC personnel in response to its work on Afghanistan.

Another legal representative of victims, Katherine Gallagher, who acts for two Guantanamo Bay detainees, stressed that so far no high-level US&nbsp;official has been held accountable for alleged violations of the rules of war in Afghanistan or at CIA "black" sites.

"The opening of an investigation into the US&nbsp;torture program would make clear that no one is above the law," she told judges.

Prosecutors have cited preliminary evidence suggesting that international forces in Afghanistan, including employees of the US&nbsp;Central Intelligence Agency, mentally and physically abused detainees, which could constitute a war crime.

The ICC, which opened in 2002, has jurisdiction over war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity if they have been committed by nationals of a signatory state or if they took place on the territory of one of its members. Afghanistan is a member, the United States is not.

The ICC is also only empowered to act when a country is found to be unable or unwilling to examine misdeeds by its own military and leaders. It has struggled due to opposition from the United States, Russia and China.

Lawyers representing victims of the Afghanistan conflict on Wednesday urged the International Criminal Court to allow a war crimes investigation that would include scrutinizing the actions of US forces.

Lawyers representing victims of the Afghanistan conflict on Wednesday urged the International Criminal Court to allow a war crimes investigation that would include scrutinizing the actions of US forces. ICC judges in April rejected the request of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda to examine atrocities allegedly committed in the conflict between 2003 and 2004, including by US troops, Afghan forces and the Taliban. Judges argued that a successful prosecution was unlikely. The prosecution has appealed that decision and is arguing the case in three days of hearings before a panel of appeals judges in The Hague. Lawyer Fergal Gaynor called the hearings "a historic day for accountability in Afghanistan". The 82 victims he represented were "united" in wanting an investigation, he said. US forces and other foreign troops intervened in Afghanistan in 2001 following the Sept. 11 attacks on the United States and overthrew the Taliban government, which had been protecting al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. In what has become the United States' longest war, about 13,000 US troops remain there. More than 32,000 civilians have been killed in the conflict, according to the United Nations. Later on Wednesday, one of US President Donald Trump's personal lawyers will address the court. Counsel Jay Sekulow, who was allowed to file a "friend of the court" brief as an independent expert, said in a statement that he intends to defend the interests of members of the US military "who sacrifice everything to defend us". Trump has denounced the ICC, the world's only permanent war crimes court, for its "broad, unaccountable, prosecutorial powers". Washington revoked US travel visas for ICC personnel in response to its work on Afghanistan. Another legal representative of victims, Katherine Gallagher, who acts for two Guantanamo Bay detainees, stressed that so far no high-level US official has been held accountable for alleged violations of the rules of war in Afghanistan or at CIA "black" sites. "The opening of an investigation into the US torture program would make clear that no one is above the law," she told judges. Prosecutors have cited preliminary evidence suggesting that international forces in Afghanistan, including employees of the US Central Intelligence Agency, mentally and physically abused detainees, which could constitute a war crime. The ICC, which opened in 2002, has jurisdiction over war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity if they have been committed by nationals of a signatory state or if they took place on the territory of one of its members. Afghanistan is a member, the United States is not. The ICC is also only empowered to act when a country is found to be unable or unwilling to examine misdeeds by its own military and leaders. It has struggled due to opposition from the United States, Russia and China.

Afghan victims ask ICC to open Afghan war crimes investigation on appeal

Myanmar struck back Friday after a surge of global legal pressure over its alleged crimes against the Rohingya, branding an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) "not in accordance with international law".

On Thursday the ICC approved a full probe into Myanmar's 2017 bloody military crackdown against the minority Muslim group.

The decision came after rights groups filed a separate lawsuit in Argentina —- in which former democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was personally named —- and a further submission of a genocide case at the UN's top court.

Two years ago some 740,000 Rohingya fled over the border into sprawling camps in Bangladesh in violence UN investigators branded as genocide.

Myanmar has repeatedly defended the crackdown as necessary to stamp out militants and has long refused to recognise the authority of the ICC — a position it reiterated Friday.

"The investigation over Myanmar by the ICC is not in accordance with international law," said government spokesman Zaw Htay at a press conference Friday.

Even though the country has not signed up to the court, the ICC ruled last year it has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh, where they are now refugees, is a member.

Zaw Htay repeated that Myanmar's own committees would investigate any abuses and ensure accountability if needed.

"Myanmar and the government are neither in denial nor closing our eyes," he said.

Critics deride the domestic panels of whitewashing atrocities.

Myanmar accused of genocide

The ICC decision came after West African nation The Gambia on Monday launched a separate case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's top court, also based in The Hague.

The Gambia, acting on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), accuses Myanmar of genocide. The first hearings are scheduled for December.

The ICJ normally deals with more legalistic disputes between states but also rules on alleged breaches of UN conventions.

Myanmar, which has signed the Genocide Convention, would respond "in accordance with international legal means," said Zaw Htay.

In the case filed Wednesday in Argentina, Suu Kyi was among top Myanmar officials named for crimes against the Rohingya, the first time the Nobel Laureate has been legally targeted over the crisis.

Human rights groups submitted the lawsuit under "universal jurisdiction", a legal principle that some crimes are so horrific, they can be tried anywhere.

The lawsuit demands top leaders -- including army chief Min Aung Hlaing and civilian leader Suu Kyi -- face justice over the "existential threat" faced by the Rohingya.

Argentine courts have taken up other such cases in relation to ex-dictator Francisco Franco's rule in Spain and the Falun Gong movement in China.

Myanmar's government spokesman offered no comment on the lawsuit.

Myanmar struck back Friday after a surge of global legal pressure over its alleged crimes against the Rohingya, branding an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) "not in accordance with international law".

Myanmar struck back Friday after a surge of global legal pressure over its alleged crimes against the Rohingya, branding an investigation by the International Criminal Court (ICC) "not in accordance with international law". On Thursday the ICC approved a full probe into Myanmar's 2017 bloody military crackdown against the minority Muslim group. The decision came after rights groups filed a separate lawsuit in Argentina —- in which former democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was personally named —- and a further submission of a genocide case at the UN's top court. Two years ago some 740,000 Rohingya fled over the border into sprawling camps in Bangladesh in violence UN investigators branded as genocide. Myanmar has repeatedly defended the crackdown as necessary to stamp out militants and has long refused to recognise the authority of the ICC — a position it reiterated Friday. "The investigation over Myanmar by the ICC is not in accordance with international law," said government spokesman Zaw Htay at a press conference Friday. Even though the country has not signed up to the court, the ICC ruled last year it has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh, where they are now refugees, is a member. Zaw Htay repeated that Myanmar's own committees would investigate any abuses and ensure accountability if needed. "Myanmar and the government are neither in denial nor closing our eyes," he said. Critics deride the domestic panels of whitewashing atrocities. Myanmar accused of genocide The ICC decision came after West African nation The Gambia on Monday launched a separate case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's top court, also based in The Hague. The Gambia, acting on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), accuses Myanmar of genocide. The first hearings are scheduled for December. The ICJ normally deals with more legalistic disputes between states but also rules on alleged breaches of UN conventions. Myanmar, which has signed the Genocide Convention, would respond "in accordance with international legal means," said Zaw Htay. In the case filed Wednesday in Argentina, Suu Kyi was among top Myanmar officials named for crimes against the Rohingya, the first time the Nobel Laureate has been legally targeted over the crisis. Human rights groups submitted the lawsuit under "universal jurisdiction", a legal principle that some crimes are so horrific, they can be tried anywhere. The lawsuit demands top leaders -- including army chief Min Aung Hlaing and civilian leader Suu Kyi -- face justice over the "existential threat" faced by the Rohingya. Argentine courts have taken up other such cases in relation to ex-dictator Francisco Franco's rule in Spain and the Falun Gong movement in China. Myanmar's government spokesman offered no comment on the lawsuit.

Myanmar rejects ICC probe over Rohingya as legal pressure mounts

Bangladesh coast guard rescued 122 Rohingya Muslim refugees from the Bay of Bengal on Thursday as the boat they had boarded to illegally flee to Malaysia started sinking due to a mechanical problem, a coast guard official said.

"Our patrol team rushed there after being informed by the fishermen out at sea that a boat was sinking due to engine failure," Lieutenant Commander Saiful Islam told Reuters on Friday.

The coast guard rescued 58 women, 47 men and 17 children from the floundering boat.

"So far this year Bangladesh police and coast guard have prevented more than 500 Rohingya refugees from being trafficked to Malaysia."

The refugees had risked the perilous voyage in order to seek a better life than the overcrowded camps in Bangladesh offer. More than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh due to a crackdown by Myanmar's military in 2017. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has denied U.N. accusations that the military waged its campaign against Rohingya with "genocidal intent.

The International Criminal Court said on Thursday it had approved a prosecution request to investigate crimes against humanity committed during the military campaign.

According to the United Nations refugees agency, maritime movements of Rohingya from Bangladesh and Myanmar have resumed after a two-year hiatus in 2016 and 2017. In most cases, Rohingya head to Malaysia and Thailand on rickety boats arranged by traffickers.

More than 100,000 Rohingya refugees have settled in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

Bangladesh coast guard rescued 122 Rohingya Muslim refugees from the Bay of Bengal on Thursday as the boat they had boarded to illegally flee to Malaysia started sinking due to a mechanical problem, a coast guard official said.

Bangladesh coast guard rescued 122 Rohingya Muslim refugees from the Bay of Bengal on Thursday as the boat they had boarded to illegally flee to Malaysia started sinking due to a mechanical problem, a coast guard official said. "Our patrol team rushed there after being informed by the fishermen out at sea that a boat was sinking due to engine failure," Lieutenant Commander Saiful Islam told Reuters on Friday. The coast guard rescued 58 women, 47 men and 17 children from the floundering boat. "So far this year Bangladesh police and coast guard have prevented more than 500 Rohingya refugees from being trafficked to Malaysia." The refugees had risked the perilous voyage in order to seek a better life than the overcrowded camps in Bangladesh offer. More than 730,000 Rohingya Muslims fled to Bangladesh due to a crackdown by Myanmar's military in 2017. Buddhist-majority Myanmar has denied U.N. accusations that the military waged its campaign against Rohingya with "genocidal intent. The International Criminal Court said on Thursday it had approved a prosecution request to investigate crimes against humanity committed during the military campaign. According to the United Nations refugees agency, maritime movements of Rohingya from Bangladesh and Myanmar have resumed after a two-year hiatus in 2016 and 2017. In most cases, Rohingya head to Malaysia and Thailand on rickety boats arranged by traffickers. More than 100,000 Rohingya refugees have settled in Muslim-majority Malaysia.

Bangladesh coast guard rescues 122 Rohingya from sinking boat

The International Criminal Court on Thursday approved a full investigation into Myanmar's alleged crimes against the Rohingya, as the southeast Asian nation faced mounting legal pressure worldwide over their fate.

Judges backed a prosecution request to probe allegations of crimes against humanity and persecution over Myanmar's 2017 bloody military crackdown against the minority Muslim group.

The ICC decision comes after a week in which former democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was named in an Argentine lawsuit over crimes against the Rohingya, and Myanmar faced a separate genocide lawsuit at the UN's top court.

More than 740,000 Rohingya people were forced to flee over the border into sprawling camps in Bangladesh, in violence that United Nations investigators say amounts to genocide.

The Hague-based ICC, set up in 2002 to try the world's worst crimes, said it had "authorised the prosecutor to proceed with an investigation for the alleged crimes within the ICC's jurisdiction" relating to Myanmar.

These include allegations of "systematic acts of violence", deportation as a crime against humanity, and persecution on the grounds of ethnicity or religion against the Rohingya, it said.

Myanmar has long denied accusations it committed ethnic cleansing or genocide.

Myanmar is not signed up to the ICC but the court ruled last year that it has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya minority because Bangladesh, where they are now refugees, is a member.

Chief ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda was allowed to open a preliminary investigation on Myanmar in September 2018, and formally applied to begin a full-scale formal probe in July this year.

International justice

The wheels of international justice have turned slowly when it comes to abuses against the Rohingya, but this week they finally creaked into action.

West African nation The Gambia on Monday launched a case at International Court of Justice, the UN's top court also based in The Hague, accusing Myanmar of genocide.

First hearings by the case, which the Gambia filed on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, are due to take place in December.

The ICJ normally deals with more legalistic disputes and border issues between states but has recently been drawn into cases involving alleged breaches of UN conventions on genocide and terrorism.

The ICC case meanwhile will focus on an individual, not state responsibility, which could, in theory, lead to arrest warrants being issued for Myanmar's generals.

Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Suu Kyi was among several top Myanmar officials named in a case filed in Argentina for crimes against Rohingya Muslims, the first time the Nobel Laureate has been legally targeted over the crisis.

Rohingya and Latin American human rights groups submitted the lawsuit in Argentina under the principle of "universal jurisdiction," a legal concept enshrined in many countries' laws.

The lawsuit demands top military and political leaders -- including army chief Min Aung Hlaing and civilian leader Suu Kyi -- face justice over the "existential threat" faced by the Rohingya Muslim minority.

Argentinean courts have taken up other universal jurisdiction cases, including in relation to ex-dictator Francisco Franco's rule in Spain and the Falun Gong movement in China.

UN investigators last year branded the 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar as "genocide" and called for the UN Security Council to refer the case to the ICC.

But that will now no longer be necessary now that the ICC has launched a probe on its own.

Myanmar has yet to comment on any of the latest three cases filed against it.

The country insists its own investigative committee is able to look into alleged atrocities -- even though critics dismiss the panel as toothless and biased.

The Rohingya garner little empathy inside Myanmar with many people supporting the 2017 military campaign, buying the official line it was a necessary defence against militants and that the Muslim minority are not citizens.

The International Criminal Court on Thursday approved a full investigation into Myanmar's alleged crimes against the Rohingya, as the southeast Asian nation faced mounting legal pressure worldwide over their fate.

The International Criminal Court on Thursday approved a full investigation into Myanmar's alleged crimes against the Rohingya, as the southeast Asian nation faced mounting legal pressure worldwide over their fate. Judges backed a prosecution request to probe allegations of crimes against humanity and persecution over Myanmar's 2017 bloody military crackdown against the minority Muslim group. The ICC decision comes after a week in which former democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi was named in an Argentine lawsuit over crimes against the Rohingya, and Myanmar faced a separate genocide lawsuit at the UN's top court. More than 740,000 Rohingya people were forced to flee over the border into sprawling camps in Bangladesh, in violence that United Nations investigators say amounts to genocide. The Hague-based ICC, set up in 2002 to try the world's worst crimes, said it had "authorised the prosecutor to proceed with an investigation for the alleged crimes within the ICC's jurisdiction" relating to Myanmar. These include allegations of "systematic acts of violence", deportation as a crime against humanity, and persecution on the grounds of ethnicity or religion against the Rohingya, it said. Myanmar has long denied accusations it committed ethnic cleansing or genocide. Myanmar is not signed up to the ICC but the court ruled last year that it has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya minority because Bangladesh, where they are now refugees, is a member. Chief ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda was allowed to open a preliminary investigation on Myanmar in September 2018, and formally applied to begin a full-scale formal probe in July this year. International justice The wheels of international justice have turned slowly when it comes to abuses against the Rohingya, but this week they finally creaked into action. West African nation The Gambia on Monday launched a case at International Court of Justice, the UN's top court also based in The Hague, accusing Myanmar of genocide. First hearings by the case, which the Gambia filed on behalf of the 57-nation Organisation of Islamic Cooperation, are due to take place in December. The ICJ normally deals with more legalistic disputes and border issues between states but has recently been drawn into cases involving alleged breaches of UN conventions on genocide and terrorism. The ICC case meanwhile will focus on an individual, not state responsibility, which could, in theory, lead to arrest warrants being issued for Myanmar's generals. Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Suu Kyi was among several top Myanmar officials named in a case filed in Argentina for crimes against Rohingya Muslims, the first time the Nobel Laureate has been legally targeted over the crisis. Rohingya and Latin American human rights groups submitted the lawsuit in Argentina under the principle of "universal jurisdiction," a legal concept enshrined in many countries' laws. The lawsuit demands top military and political leaders -- including army chief Min Aung Hlaing and civilian leader Suu Kyi -- face justice over the "existential threat" faced by the Rohingya Muslim minority. Argentinean courts have taken up other universal jurisdiction cases, including in relation to ex-dictator Francisco Franco's rule in Spain and the Falun Gong movement in China. UN investigators last year branded the 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar as "genocide" and called for the UN Security Council to refer the case to the ICC. But that will now no longer be necessary now that the ICC has launched a probe on its own. Myanmar has yet to comment on any of the latest three cases filed against it. The country insists its own investigative committee is able to look into alleged atrocities -- even though critics dismiss the panel as toothless and biased. The Rohingya garner little empathy inside Myanmar with many people supporting the 2017 military campaign, buying the official line it was a necessary defence against militants and that the Muslim minority are not citizens.

ICC approves probe into alleged Myanmar Rohingya abuse

The International Criminal Court sentenced former Congolese military leader <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/terminator-warlord-guilty-of-congo-atrocities-234054">Bosco Ntaganda</a> on Thursday to 30 years in prison for atrocities including murder, rape and conscripting child soldiers.

Ntaganda, 46, was found guilty in July on 18 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for acts committed when he was military operations chief at the Union of Congolese Patriots(UPC) militia in east Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002-2003.

At Thursday's sentencing, Judge Robert Fremr said there were no real mitigating circumstances and issued the 30-year sentence, the longest handed down by the Hague court to date.

The International Criminal Court sentenced former Congolese military leader Bosco Ntaganda on Thursday to 30 years in prison for atrocities including murder, rape and conscripting child soldiers.

The International Criminal Court sentenced former Congolese military leader Bosco Ntaganda on Thursday to 30 years in prison for atrocities including murder, rape and conscripting child soldiers. Ntaganda, 46, was found guilty in July on 18 charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity for acts committed when he was military operations chief at the Union of Congolese Patriots(UPC) militia in east Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002-2003. At Thursday's sentencing, Judge Robert Fremr said there were no real mitigating circumstances and issued the 30-year sentence, the longest handed down by the Hague court to date.

War crimes judges sentence Congolese warlord Ntaganda to 30 years in prison

Philippine President <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippine-president-sparks-outrage-for-calling-god-stupid-147127">Rodrigo Duterte</a> has appointed his main political rival, Leni Robredo, his "drugs tsar" after the opposition leader expressed alarm about the high death toll in his anti-narcotics campaign and said it needed a fresh approach.

The appointment follows critical remarks by Robredo during an interview with Reuters, and in subsequent media appearances, which angered the volatile Duterte and led to a torrent of social media fury at Robredo, who is his vice president but has no role in his administration.

Duterte's spokesman announced Robredo's appointment on Tuesday as co-chair of an inter-agency panel on drugs, which he said was genuine and not a cynical political play to discredit her, as her camp believed. The president has ordered all agencies to give her their full support.

"If she has been criticising the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-drugs-war-escalates-teenager-killed-19175">drug war</a> as ineffective, then there must be ideas on her mind to make it effective," Panelo said on television.

Robredo, 54, was elected separately to Duterte and is among a growing number of critics who say his approach has boosted his tough image but had little impact on the drugs trade or addiction rates.

She did not immediately confirm if she would take the job. Her spokesman has said she would not be a scapegoat for the shortcomings of Duterte's war on drugs.

He remains hugely popular because of his defiance of the international outcry caused by his signature crackdown, which human rights groups say involves systematic executions and police cover-ups. Police reject that and say the nearly 7,000 people they killed were armed drug suspects who resisted arrest.

Duterte is furious that the UN&nbsp;Human Rights Council wants to investigate the killings, adding to an ongoing preliminary examination by the International Criminal Court (ICC), of which Duterte has cancelled the Philippines' membership.

Obliged&nbsp;to&nbsp;accept

Allies of the president urged Robredo to take the post while the Dangerous Drugs Board and police said they welcomed her experience, ideas and a new perspective.

Political analyst Ramon Casiple said that politics aside, Robredo was not in a position to decline.

"There's the obligation, not just a personal decision. If you were elected and the president sought for help, you will," he said.

Duterte has openly insulted Robredo, who leads a party with diminished power and influence.

She advocates tackling drugs from a health, social and community perspective, including prevention and treatment rather than a largely police-centred approach.

Activists say police are operating with impunity, with the implied support of a president who once vowed to kill 100,000 dealers, and he would be happy to slaughter millions of addicts. He has since said he uses hyperbole to stress a point and denies inciting murder.

Estimates of the number killed during the drugs war vary significantly, but thousands of users and alleged dealers have wound up dead outside of official police operations, many in mysterious circumstances.

Robredo on October&nbsp;23 told Reuters that international help, including from the United Nations and ICC, should be sought if the government refused to change tack and stop abusive police. On Duterte's approach, she said: "Obviously, it's not working."

Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana of the Commission on Human Rights was hopeful Robredo could stop the killings.

"Are we going to look at addicts as victims?" she said. "The approach would not be to kill them but to rehabilitate them."

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed his main political rival, Leni Robredo, his "drugs tsar" after the opposition leader expressed alarm about the high death toll in his anti-narcotics campaign and said it needed a fresh approach.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed his main political rival, Leni Robredo, his "drugs tsar" after the opposition leader expressed alarm about the high death toll in his anti-narcotics campaign and said it needed a fresh approach. The appointment follows critical remarks by Robredo during an interview with Reuters, and in subsequent media appearances, which angered the volatile Duterte and led to a torrent of social media fury at Robredo, who is his vice president but has no role in his administration. Duterte's spokesman announced Robredo's appointment on Tuesday as co-chair of an inter-agency panel on drugs, which he said was genuine and not a cynical political play to discredit her, as her camp believed. The president has ordered all agencies to give her their full support. "If she has been criticising the drug war as ineffective, then there must be ideas on her mind to make it effective," Panelo said on television. Robredo, 54, was elected separately to Duterte and is among a growing number of critics who say his approach has boosted his tough image but had little impact on the drugs trade or addiction rates. She did not immediately confirm if she would take the job. Her spokesman has said she would not be a scapegoat for the shortcomings of Duterte's war on drugs. He remains hugely popular because of his defiance of the international outcry caused by his signature crackdown, which human rights groups say involves systematic executions and police cover-ups. Police reject that and say the nearly 7,000 people they killed were armed drug suspects who resisted arrest. Duterte is furious that the UN Human Rights Council wants to investigate the killings, adding to an ongoing preliminary examination by the International Criminal Court (ICC), of which Duterte has cancelled the Philippines' membership. Obliged to accept Allies of the president urged Robredo to take the post while the Dangerous Drugs Board and police said they welcomed her experience, ideas and a new perspective. Political analyst Ramon Casiple said that politics aside, Robredo was not in a position to decline. "There's the obligation, not just a personal decision. If you were elected and the president sought for help, you will," he said. Duterte has openly insulted Robredo, who leads a party with diminished power and influence. She advocates tackling drugs from a health, social and community perspective, including prevention and treatment rather than a largely police-centred approach. Activists say police are operating with impunity, with the implied support of a president who once vowed to kill 100,000 dealers, and he would be happy to slaughter millions of addicts. He has since said he uses hyperbole to stress a point and denies inciting murder. Estimates of the number killed during the drugs war vary significantly, but thousands of users and alleged dealers have wound up dead outside of official police operations, many in mysterious circumstances. Robredo on October 23 told Reuters that international help, including from the United Nations and ICC, should be sought if the government refused to change tack and stop abusive police. On Duterte's approach, she said: "Obviously, it's not working." Gwendolyn Pimentel-Gana of the Commission on Human Rights was hopeful Robredo could stop the killings. "Are we going to look at addicts as victims?" she said. "The approach would not be to kill them but to rehabilitate them."

Philippines' President Duterte picks top drug war critic Robredo as his 'drugs tsar'

Omar al-Bashir received $90 million in cash from Saudi royals, an investigator told a court at the opening Monday of the deposed Sudanese strongman's corruption trial.

Omar al-Bashir received $90 million in cash from Saudi royals, an investigator told a court at the opening Monday of the deposed Sudanese strongman's corruption trial. The former president, who was forced from power by months of protests in April after 30 years in power, sat in a metal cage wearing a traditional white gown. His relatives chanted "Allahu Akbar" (God is greatest) as proceedings got underway in the Khartoum court where he arrived in a huge military convoy. Bashir faces a raft of charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide from the International Criminal Court over his role in the Darfur war but Monday's trial is over graft allegations. Large amounts of cash were found at this residence after he was toppled and the investigator said the case brought forward to the court probed some of that money. "The accused told us that the money was part of a sum of $25 million sent to him by Prince Mohammed bin Salman to be used outside of the state budget," investigator Ahmed Ali said. According to him Bashir had said he also received two previous payments of $35 million and $30 million from Saudi King Abdullah, who died in 2015. "This money was not part of the state budget and I was the one who authorised its spending," the investigator quoted Bashir as saying. Bashir had said the Saudi money was exchanged and spent and that he could not remember how nor did he have documents providing further details, he added. Bashir looked calm during the nearly three-hour session, which an AFP photographer and correspondent attended. The next hearing was scheduled for August 24. Darfur crimes In May, Sudan's prosecutor general also said Bashir had been charged over killings during the anti-regime protests which eventually led to his ouster. London-based rights watchdog Amnesty International has warned however that the corruption trial should not distract from his Darfur indictments. "While this trial is a positive step towards accountability for some of his alleged crimes, he remains wanted for heinous crimes committed against the Sudanese people," Amnesty said. Amnesty urged the country's new transitional institutions to ratify the ICC's Rome Statute, a move that would allow for his transfer to the international tribunal. The Hague-based ICC has for years demanded that Bashir stand trial, and has renewed its call since his fall. The head of Bashir's defence team, Ahmed Ibrahim al-Tahir, said in July that the ousted leader's trial had no "political background". "It is an absolute criminal case with a baseless accusation." It was the sudden tripling of bread prices in December that sparked the mushrooming protests which led to the toppling of Bashir by the army in April. Sovereign Council The trial comes as the composition of the joint civilian and military sovereign council that will steer the country of 40 million through a 39-month transition was due to be unveiled on Monday. The line-up had been expected to be announced on Sunday but it was delayed after one of the five nominees put forward by the opposition alliance representing protest leaders turned down the job. The ruling sovereign council will be composed of 11 members including six civilians and five from the military. It will be headed by a general for the first 21 months and by a civilian for the remaining 18 months. The council will oversee the formation of a transitional civilian administration including a cabinet and a legislative body. The transition's key documents were signed on Saturday at a ceremony attended by a host of foreign dignitaries, signalling that Sudan could be on its way to shedding the pariah status the Darfur atrocities and Bashir's international arrest warrant had conferred on it. Amidst the euphoria celebrating the promise of civilian rule, unease was palpable however within the protest camp that brought about one of the most crucial changes in Sudan's modern history. One of its main causes is the omnipresence in the transition of General Mohamed Hamdan Daglo, a paramilitary commander and one of the signatories of the documents, whose forces are blamed for the deadly repression of the protests. And it remains unclear how the transitional institutions will tackle the daunting task of pacifying a country plagued by several conflicts, including in the regions of Darfur, Kordofan and the Blue Nile.

Sudan ex-president Bashir got $90 million from Saudi royal family: Investigator tells court

Thousands protested in the streets of Manila on July 22 as <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/you-must-be-stupid-president-rodrigo-duterte-says-he-wont-be-tried-by-international-court-236653">President Rodrigo Duterte</a> launched a spirited defence of his relationship with China. Duterte insisted that his refusal to challenge China's maritime assertiveness was not capitulation, but avoidance of conflict.

In one and half hour speech to Congress that frequently went off script, Duterte devoted part of his annual state of the nation address to arguing that it was senseless to confront a country with claims to the same waters, and a far superior military.

Some 3,000 protesters took to the streets to condemn the government over its stance towards China and deadly war on drugs.

Protesters burned a serpent-shaped effigy of Duterte decorated with a Chinese flag and gun.

Duterte has been heavily scrutinised for his ties to China. Critics have accused him of gambling with national sovereignty in pursuit of massive investments that have not yet materialised.

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-duterte-mulls-cutting-iceland-ties-over-united-nations-probe-236318">Philippine</a> leader made a few references to his signature war on drugs, despite a July 11 decision by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the thousands of deaths and allegations of summary killings by police.

Critics say Duterte's frequent threats and talk of bloodshed have emboldened police to kill drug users and peddlers with impunity.

The president also joked about a preliminary examination of the drugs crackdown by the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying he might agree to go on trial with a few conditions that included an air-conditioned cell and "unlimited conjugal visits".

Thousands protested in the streets of Manila on July 22 as President Rodrigo Duterte launched a spirited defence of his relationship with China. Duterte insisted that his refusal to challenge China's maritime assertiveness was not capitulation, but avoidance of conflict.

Thousands protested in the streets of Manila on July 22 as President Rodrigo Duterte launched a spirited defence of his relationship with China. Duterte insisted that his refusal to challenge China's maritime assertiveness was not capitulation, but avoidance of conflict. In one and half hour speech to Congress that frequently went off script, Duterte devoted part of his annual state of the nation address to arguing that it was senseless to confront a country with claims to the same waters, and a far superior military. Some 3,000 protesters took to the streets to condemn the government over its stance towards China and deadly war on drugs. Protesters burned a serpent-shaped effigy of Duterte decorated with a Chinese flag and gun. Duterte has been heavily scrutinised for his ties to China. Critics have accused him of gambling with national sovereignty in pursuit of massive investments that have not yet materialised. The Philippine leader made a few references to his signature war on drugs, despite a July 11 decision by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate the thousands of deaths and allegations of summary killings by police. Critics say Duterte's frequent threats and talk of bloodshed have emboldened police to kill drug users and peddlers with impunity. The president also joked about a preliminary examination of the drugs crackdown by the International Criminal Court (ICC), saying he might agree to go on trial with a few conditions that included an air-conditioned cell and "unlimited conjugal visits".

Protests rage in Philippine capital as President Rodrigo Duterte defends China relationship

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-duterte-mulls-cutting-iceland-ties-over-united-nations-probe-236318">Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte</a> has declared he will never be tried by an international court for mass killings in his war on drugs, and vowed no let-up in a crackdown that he said he was winning and would see through "to the very end".

In a television interview with a celebrity pastor, the firebrand leader said the Philippine justice system was working fine, so it would be "stupid" to imagine he would let an international court put him on trial.

"I will only face, be tried or face a trial, in a Philippine court. Presided by a Filipino judge. Prosecuted by a Filipino ... I will not answer a Caucasian, asking questions, white man there. You must be stupid," he said late on Tuesday.

"I am a Filipino. We have our courts here... Shit. Do you have to bring me somewhere else? I would not like that. I have my country. It's working. I know it's working. Justice is working here."

His opponents argue otherwise and say police are killing with impunity, and that with an approval rating of about 80 percent, a super-majority in Congress and presidential appointees heading courts, commissions, and investigative bodies, there is little chance of Duterte being impeached or prosecuted at home.

Duterte, 74, has previously said he was so committed to his war on drugs that he was prepared to be tried for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, or rot in jail there.

However, within weeks of an ICC prosecutor announcing in February 2018 that a preliminary examination was being conducted into the killings, Duterte ordered police not to cooperate, and then unilaterally cancelled the Philippines' ICC membership. The ICC examination continues, despite his withdrawal.

His latest show of defiance comes days after the UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution to investigate the killings, responding to a call from 11 UN experts concerned about a "staggering" amount of deaths.

The Philippine government has rejected the resolution as meddling by biased Western states and denies activists' allegations that police are executing thousands of drug users and peddlers.

Duterte said he was making gains in his anti-narcotics campaign, with fewer drugs on the streets.

He said suspects should choose to "drop the drugs or drop dead", but suggested that was merely an expression, not an instruction to kill.

"Whether they like it or not, I will continue what I started to the very end," he said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared he will never be tried by an international court for mass killings in his war on drugs, and vowed no let-up in a crackdown that he said he was winning and would see through "to the very end".

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has declared he will never be tried by an international court for mass killings in his war on drugs, and vowed no let-up in a crackdown that he said he was winning and would see through "to the very end". In a television interview with a celebrity pastor, the firebrand leader said the Philippine justice system was working fine, so it would be "stupid" to imagine he would let an international court put him on trial. "I will only face, be tried or face a trial, in a Philippine court. Presided by a Filipino judge. Prosecuted by a Filipino ... I will not answer a Caucasian, asking questions, white man there. You must be stupid," he said late on Tuesday. "I am a Filipino. We have our courts here... Shit. Do you have to bring me somewhere else? I would not like that. I have my country. It's working. I know it's working. Justice is working here." His opponents argue otherwise and say police are killing with impunity, and that with an approval rating of about 80 percent, a super-majority in Congress and presidential appointees heading courts, commissions, and investigative bodies, there is little chance of Duterte being impeached or prosecuted at home. Duterte, 74, has previously said he was so committed to his war on drugs that he was prepared to be tried for crimes against humanity at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague, or rot in jail there. However, within weeks of an ICC prosecutor announcing in February 2018 that a preliminary examination was being conducted into the killings, Duterte ordered police not to cooperate, and then unilaterally cancelled the Philippines' ICC membership. The ICC examination continues, despite his withdrawal. His latest show of defiance comes days after the UN Human Rights Council approved a resolution to investigate the killings, responding to a call from 11 UN experts concerned about a "staggering" amount of deaths. The Philippine government has rejected the resolution as meddling by biased Western states and denies activists' allegations that police are executing thousands of drug users and peddlers. Duterte said he was making gains in his anti-narcotics campaign, with fewer drugs on the streets. He said suspects should choose to "drop the drugs or drop dead", but suggested that was merely an expression, not an instruction to kill. "Whether they like it or not, I will continue what I started to the very end," he said.

'You must be stupid': Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte says he won't be tried by international court

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/philippines-top-senator-chides-iceland-for-abortion-united-nation-drugs-war-probe-236074">Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte</a> is "seriously considering" cutting his nation's diplomatic ties with Iceland after it spearheaded a UN resolution to probe his deadly drug war, the leader's spokesman said.

Duterte bristles at any Western condemnation of his signature campaign, which has killed thousands and critics say could amount to crimes against humanity.

The comments late Monday from presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo came in response to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-withdraws-from-un-human-rights-council-145673">UN Human Rights Council</a> last week backing the Iceland-proposed resolution to review the killings.&nbsp;

"(Duterte) is seriously considering cutting diplomatic relations with Iceland," Panelo said in a statement.

"The adopted Iceland resolution is grotesquely one-sided, outrageously narrow, and maliciously partisan," he added.

Duterte launched the anti-drug crackdown in 2016, and since then police say they have killed over 5,300 drug suspects. However, human rights groups say the true toll is four times that number.

The UN review comes in addition to a preliminary examination already launched by war crimes prosecutors from the International Criminal Court, which the Philippines left earlier this year.

Panelo attacked the UN resolution saying it "likewise demonstrates how the Western powers are scornful of our sovereign exercise of protecting our people".&nbsp;

Duterte's government frequently paints international criticism as a violation of sovereignty, but watchdogs counter by saying an impartial local review is nearly impossible while Duterte is in power.

Last week Amnesty International released a report alleging the killing is "systematic" and police face very little, if any, scrutiny over the nightly slayings.

Duterte has already publicly mocked Iceland over the UN vote.

"Iceland, what is Iceland's problem Justice. That's your problem. You have too much ice," Duterte said Friday.&nbsp;

"These idiots, they don't understand the social, economic, political problems of the Philippines."

While the Philippines and Iceland have diplomatic ties, they do not have embassies in each other's country, said the Filipino foreign minister.

Economic ties include Icelandic investment in geothermal energy in the Philippines and Filipinos working as office and factory workers and nurses in Iceland.

Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin had said his nation could withdraw from the UN rights council over the vote but later said it would not do so.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is "seriously considering" cutting his nation's diplomatic ties with Iceland after it spearheaded a UN resolution to probe his deadly drug war, the leader's spokesman said.

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is "seriously considering" cutting his nation's diplomatic ties with Iceland after it spearheaded a UN resolution to probe his deadly drug war, the leader's spokesman said. Duterte bristles at any Western condemnation of his signature campaign, which has killed thousands and critics say could amount to crimes against humanity. The comments late Monday from presidential spokesman Salvador Panelo came in response to the UN Human Rights Council last week backing the Iceland-proposed resolution to review the killings. "(Duterte) is seriously considering cutting diplomatic relations with Iceland," Panelo said in a statement. "The adopted Iceland resolution is grotesquely one-sided, outrageously narrow, and maliciously partisan," he added. Duterte launched the anti-drug crackdown in 2016, and since then police say they have killed over 5,300 drug suspects. However, human rights groups say the true toll is four times that number. The UN review comes in addition to a preliminary examination already launched by war crimes prosecutors from the International Criminal Court, which the Philippines left earlier this year. Panelo attacked the UN resolution saying it "likewise demonstrates how the Western powers are scornful of our sovereign exercise of protecting our people". Duterte's government frequently paints international criticism as a violation of sovereignty, but watchdogs counter by saying an impartial local review is nearly impossible while Duterte is in power. Last week Amnesty International released a report alleging the killing is "systematic" and police face very little, if any, scrutiny over the nightly slayings. Duterte has already publicly mocked Iceland over the UN vote. "Iceland, what is Iceland's problem Justice. That's your problem. You have too much ice," Duterte said Friday. "These idiots, they don't understand the social, economic, political problems of the Philippines." While the Philippines and Iceland have diplomatic ties, they do not have embassies in each other's country, said the Filipino foreign minister. Economic ties include Icelandic investment in geothermal energy in the Philippines and Filipinos working as office and factory workers and nurses in Iceland. Philippine Foreign Minister Teodoro Locsin had said his nation could withdraw from the UN rights council over the vote but later said it would not do so.

Philippines' Duterte mulls cutting Iceland ties over United Nation probe

Judges at the International Criminal Court on Monday (July 8) convicted Bosco Ntaganda, a former Congolese military leader, on charges of atrocities including murder, rape and conscripting child soldiers.

Court convicts Congo's Ntaganda of war crimes

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-army-rejects-international-criminal-court-bid-for-full-rohingya-probe-230916">International Criminal Court</a> judges on Monday convicted a&nbsp;Congolese rebel chief nicknamed "Terminator" of war crimes including massacring civilians and sexual enslavement, in a badly-needed victory for prosecutors in The Hague.

Bosco Ntaganda's forces carried out horrific attacks including one in a banana field that left babies and children disembowelled or with their heads smashed in, judges said.

The 45-year-old was a "key leader" who recruited child soldiers and gave "direct orders to target and kill" non-combatants in the<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/more-than-300000-flee-congo-violence-complicating-ebola-fight-united-nations-228316"> Democratic Republic of Congo</a>'s Ituri region in 2002 and 2003.

Ntaganda was found guilty of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, directing attacks against civilians, displacing civilians, rape, sexual slavery and enlisting children under the age of 15.

"Mr Ntaganda rallied the troops before battle, he gave direct orders to the troops during operations, and he debriefed them afterward," head judge Robert Fremr said.

Rwandan-born Ntaganda will be sentenced at a later date after judges hear submissions from victims. Judges can give a life sentence.

Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth hailed the verdict as &nbsp;"big win for the survivors", while the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) said it was a "day of joy for Ituri victims."

Ntaganda is known for his pencil moustache and a penchant for fine dining proclaimed his innocence throughout the trial, insisting that he was "soldier not a criminal" and that the "Terminator" nickname did not apply to him.

Prosecutors portrayed him as the ruthless leader of ethnic Tutsi revolts amid the civil wars that wracked the DRC after the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in neighbouring Rwanda.

Judges said Ntaganda "fulfilled a very important military function" as a leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots rebels and its military wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC).&nbsp;

The FPLC killed at least 800 people as it fought rival militias in Ituri for control of valuable minerals. More than 60,000 people have been killed since violence erupted there in 1999.

&nbsp;'Bodies were disembowelled'&nbsp;

In one attack directed by Ntaganda, judges said that soldiers killed at least 49 captives in a banana field behind a village, using "sticks and batons as well as knives and machetes."

"Men, women and children and babies were found in the field. Some bodies were found naked, some had hands tied up, some had their heads crushed. Several bodies were disembowelled or otherwise mutilated," Fremr said.

In other attacks, women were "killed either while resisting rape or after being raped" while people were forced to dig mass graves that they were later killed and thrown into.

Ntaganda was found guilty of personally shooting dead a Catholic priest and as an "indirect perpetrator" for the other crimes by giving "direct orders to target and kill civilians" and other crimes.

These included recruiting child soldiers who "wore uniforms that were often too large for them" but were "punished and suffered physical violence" in the same way as adult soldiers," the judgment said.

The judges said it was "common for female members to be raped", including three girls under the age of 15.

Formerly a Congolese army general, Ntaganda then became a founding member of the M23 rebel group, which was eventually defeated by Congolese government forces in 2013.

Later that year he became the first-ever suspect to voluntarily surrender to the ICC when he walked into the US embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali and asked to be sent to the court, based in the Netherlands.

Ntaganda is one of five Congolese warlords brought before the ICC, which was set up in 2002 as an independent international body to prosecute those accused of the world's worst crimes.

Ntaganda's former FPLC commander Thomas Lubanga was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 2012.&nbsp;

But it has suffered a string of setbacks over recent years with some of its most high-profile suspects walking free, including Ivorian former leader Laurent Gbagbo earlier this year.

It has also been criticised for mainly trying African suspects so far.

The US administration of President Donald Trump has also attacked the court after warning it against prosecuting US service members over war crimes in Afghanistan.

International Criminal Court judges on Monday convicted a Congolese rebel chief nicknamed "Terminator" of war crimes including massacring civilians and sexual enslavement, in a badly-needed victory for prosecutors in The Hague.

International Criminal Court judges on Monday convicted a Congolese rebel chief nicknamed "Terminator" of war crimes including massacring civilians and sexual enslavement, in a badly-needed victory for prosecutors in The Hague. Bosco Ntaganda's forces carried out horrific attacks including one in a banana field that left babies and children disembowelled or with their heads smashed in, judges said. The 45-year-old was a "key leader" who recruited child soldiers and gave "direct orders to target and kill" non-combatants in the Democratic Republic of Congo's Ituri region in 2002 and 2003. Ntaganda was found guilty of 18 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, including murder, directing attacks against civilians, displacing civilians, rape, sexual slavery and enlisting children under the age of 15. "Mr Ntaganda rallied the troops before battle, he gave direct orders to the troops during operations, and he debriefed them afterward," head judge Robert Fremr said. Rwandan-born Ntaganda will be sentenced at a later date after judges hear submissions from victims. Judges can give a life sentence. Human Rights Watch director Kenneth Roth hailed the verdict as "big win for the survivors", while the International Federation of Human Rights (FIDH) said it was a "day of joy for Ituri victims." Ntaganda is known for his pencil moustache and a penchant for fine dining proclaimed his innocence throughout the trial, insisting that he was "soldier not a criminal" and that the "Terminator" nickname did not apply to him. Prosecutors portrayed him as the ruthless leader of ethnic Tutsi revolts amid the civil wars that wracked the DRC after the 1994 genocide of Tutsis in neighbouring Rwanda. Judges said Ntaganda "fulfilled a very important military function" as a leader of the Union of Congolese Patriots rebels and its military wing, the Patriotic Forces for the Liberation of Congo (FPLC). The FPLC killed at least 800 people as it fought rival militias in Ituri for control of valuable minerals. More than 60,000 people have been killed since violence erupted there in 1999. 'Bodies were disembowelled' In one attack directed by Ntaganda, judges said that soldiers killed at least 49 captives in a banana field behind a village, using "sticks and batons as well as knives and machetes." "Men, women and children and babies were found in the field. Some bodies were found naked, some had hands tied up, some had their heads crushed. Several bodies were disembowelled or otherwise mutilated," Fremr said. In other attacks, women were "killed either while resisting rape or after being raped" while people were forced to dig mass graves that they were later killed and thrown into. Ntaganda was found guilty of personally shooting dead a Catholic priest and as an "indirect perpetrator" for the other crimes by giving "direct orders to target and kill civilians" and other crimes. These included recruiting child soldiers who "wore uniforms that were often too large for them" but were "punished and suffered physical violence" in the same way as adult soldiers," the judgment said. The judges said it was "common for female members to be raped", including three girls under the age of 15. Formerly a Congolese army general, Ntaganda then became a founding member of the M23 rebel group, which was eventually defeated by Congolese government forces in 2013. Later that year he became the first-ever suspect to voluntarily surrender to the ICC when he walked into the US embassy in the Rwandan capital Kigali and asked to be sent to the court, based in the Netherlands. Ntaganda is one of five Congolese warlords brought before the ICC, which was set up in 2002 as an independent international body to prosecute those accused of the world's worst crimes. Ntaganda's former FPLC commander Thomas Lubanga was sentenced to 14 years in jail in 2012. But it has suffered a string of setbacks over recent years with some of its most high-profile suspects walking free, including Ivorian former leader Laurent Gbagbo earlier this year. It has also been criticised for mainly trying African suspects so far. The US administration of President Donald Trump has also attacked the court after warning it against prosecuting US service members over war crimes in Afghanistan.

International Criminal Court convicts 'Terminator' warlord guilty of Congo atrocities

Judges at the International Criminal Court on Monday convicted Bosco Ntaganda, a former Congolese military leader, on charges of atrocities including murder, rape and conscripting child soldiers. Ntaganda, 45, was convicted for acts committed while he was military operations chief at the Union of Congolese Patriots (UPC) militia in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2002-2003.

Myanmar's military on Thursday rejected an <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/international-criminal-court-prosecutor-seeks-full-myanmar-atrocities-probe-230682">International Criminal Court (ICC)</a> prosecutor's call for a full investigation into alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims.

Fatou Bensouda launched a preliminary probe in September into the 2017 crackdown by Myanmar's military that forced some <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/results-needed-from-myanmar-over-rohingya-return-unhcr-head-221508">740,000 Rohingya</a> over the border into Bangladesh with accounts of rape, mass killings and razing of villages.

On Wednesday she said she would take the issue to the next stage by submitting a request to ICC judges to open a full investigation.

It is not clear when that decision would be made.

Myanmar has not signed up to the ICC, but the court ruled in September it has jurisdiction over alleged atrocities because Bangladesh, where the Rohingya are now refugees, is a member.

Myanmar had rejected the ruling in September in a typically defiant manner, a position a military spokesman reiterated Thursday.

"The military and government have not neglected the issue and have been trying to take action against those who committed abuses," Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Htun told AFP Thursday.

"Myanmar has an investigative committee looking at this and they (the ICC) should respect what we are doing," he said, adding that the "ICC's interference harms the dignity" of Myanmar and its military.&nbsp;

The government and army have acknowledged virtually no wrongdoing related to the "clearance operations" they justified as a means of rooting out Rohingya insurgents in western Rakhine state.

Seven soldiers jailed for their role in the killing of 10 Rohingya were freed despite serving less time than two Reuters reporters imprisoned for exposing the massacre.

Asia Pacific Director for the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Frederick Rawski said an ICC intervention was "entirely appropriate".

"The military has proven itself wholly unwilling and incapable of providing justice for crimes under international law perpetrated against Rohingyas," he said.

UN investigators have separately called for the prosecution of top Myanmar generals for "genocide".

Myanmar's military on Thursday rejected an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor's call for a full investigation into alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims.

Myanmar's military on Thursday rejected an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor's call for a full investigation into alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims. Fatou Bensouda launched a preliminary probe in September into the 2017 crackdown by Myanmar's military that forced some 740,000 Rohingya over the border into Bangladesh with accounts of rape, mass killings and razing of villages. On Wednesday she said she would take the issue to the next stage by submitting a request to ICC judges to open a full investigation. It is not clear when that decision would be made. Myanmar has not signed up to the ICC, but the court ruled in September it has jurisdiction over alleged atrocities because Bangladesh, where the Rohingya are now refugees, is a member. Myanmar had rejected the ruling in September in a typically defiant manner, a position a military spokesman reiterated Thursday. "The military and government have not neglected the issue and have been trying to take action against those who committed abuses," Myanmar military spokesman Brigadier General Zaw Min Htun told AFP Thursday. "Myanmar has an investigative committee looking at this and they (the ICC) should respect what we are doing," he said, adding that the "ICC's interference harms the dignity" of Myanmar and its military. The government and army have acknowledged virtually no wrongdoing related to the "clearance operations" they justified as a means of rooting out Rohingya insurgents in western Rakhine state. Seven soldiers jailed for their role in the killing of 10 Rohingya were freed despite serving less time than two Reuters reporters imprisoned for exposing the massacre. Asia Pacific Director for the International Commission of Jurists (ICJ) Frederick Rawski said an ICC intervention was "entirely appropriate". "The military has proven itself wholly unwilling and incapable of providing justice for crimes under international law perpetrated against Rohingyas," he said. UN investigators have separately called for the prosecution of top Myanmar generals for "genocide".

Myanmar army rejects International Criminal Court bid for full Rohingya probe

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor wants to open a full investigation into Myanmar's alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims, including killings and forced deportations, the court said Wednesday.

Fatou Bensouda's move comes after she launched a preliminary examination in September into Myanmar's 2017 military crackdown, which saw around 700,000 people flee into neighbouring Bangladesh. The Ghanaian-born prosecutor will now "submit a request for an authorisation to open an investigation into this situation", the Hague-based ICC said in a statement.

Judges will then "decide whether or not to authorise" her request for a full-scale probe, the court said, without saying when that decision would be made.

In September, judges ruled that even though Myanmar has not signed up to the ICC, the court still has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh, where they are now refugees, is a member.&nbsp;

The probe would be "within the context of two waves of violence in Rakhine State on the territory of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar", and other crimes that were "sufficiently linked" Bensouda said in a letter to the court. Officials from the ICC have since visited Bangladesh as part of the prosecutor's preliminary enquiries.

UN investigators have separately called for the prosecution of top Myanmar generals for "genocide". Myanmar's army has denied nearly all wrongdoing, insisting its campaign was justified to root out Rohingya insurgents who staged deadly raids on border posts in August 2017.

It has also "resolutely" rejected the ICC's assertion that it has jurisdiction over the crime, saying that the decision was in "manifest bad faith" and was of "dubious legal merit".&nbsp;

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor wants to open a full investigation into Myanmar's alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims, including killings and forced deportations, the court said Wednesday.

The International Criminal Court's prosecutor wants to open a full investigation into Myanmar's alleged crimes against Rohingya Muslims, including killings and forced deportations, the court said Wednesday. Fatou Bensouda's move comes after she launched a preliminary examination in September into Myanmar's 2017 military crackdown, which saw around 700,000 people flee into neighbouring Bangladesh. The Ghanaian-born prosecutor will now "submit a request for an authorisation to open an investigation into this situation", the Hague-based ICC said in a statement. Judges will then "decide whether or not to authorise" her request for a full-scale probe, the court said, without saying when that decision would be made. In September, judges ruled that even though Myanmar has not signed up to the ICC, the court still has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh, where they are now refugees, is a member. The probe would be "within the context of two waves of violence in Rakhine State on the territory of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar", and other crimes that were "sufficiently linked" Bensouda said in a letter to the court. Officials from the ICC have since visited Bangladesh as part of the prosecutor's preliminary enquiries. UN investigators have separately called for the prosecution of top Myanmar generals for "genocide". Myanmar's army has denied nearly all wrongdoing, insisting its campaign was justified to root out Rohingya insurgents who staged deadly raids on border posts in August 2017. It has also "resolutely" rejected the ICC's assertion that it has jurisdiction over the crime, saying that the decision was in "manifest bad faith" and was of "dubious legal merit".

International Criminal Court prosecutor seeks full Myanmar atrocities probe

Myanmar must "show results" to convince Rohingya refugees to return, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said Friday at the end of his first visit to Myanmar since the crackdown against Rohingya Muslims in 2017.

A brutal military campaign in western Rakhine state forced some 740,000 Rohingya over the border into Bangladesh.

Around one million Rohingya now languish in sprawling refugee camps from various waves of persecution.

A UN fact-finding mission called for Myanmar’s top generals to be prosecuted for "genocide" and the International Criminal Court (ICC) has started preliminary investigations.

During his visit Grandi spoke with both Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist communities in Maungdaw and Buthidaung in northern Rakhine, the epicentre of the violence.&nbsp;

He also held discussions with officials in capital Naypyidaw, including civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, describing all talks as "constructive".

"My message is, 'please accelerate', because it has been very slow in the implementation in this first year. We need to show results," he told AFP in an interview in Yangon.

"This is not enough to convince people to come back," he said.

Grandi visited the camps in Bangladesh in April.

The two countries have signed a repatriation agreement but so far virtually no refugees have returned, fearing for their safety and unconvinced they will be granted citizenship.

Myanmar pejoratively labels the Rohingya as "Bengali", implying they are illegal interlopers and the community has had its rights eroded over decades.

Gaining independent access to northern Rakhine is difficult with most journalists, observers and diplomats only allowed on brief chaperoned visits.

Grandi defended the UNHCR’s involvement in a plan by the Bangladeshi government to move some 100,000 refugees onto low-lying island Bhashan Char.

The area in the Bay of Bengal is prone to flooding and cyclones.

Rights groups oppose the scheme that has also so far been universally rejected by the Rohingya themselves.

The refugee agency must be "involved" to have the necessary information in order to take a stance on the issue, Grandi said.

"We’re still at that stage, no more than that."

He also visited camps near Rakhine’s capital Sittwe, where nearly 130,000 Rohingya have been confined since a previous bout of violence in 2012.

Myanmar has announced it will close the camps but many are sceptical the displaced will enjoy more freedoms.

Grandi said the UNHCR would reconsider its role in providing services if conditions did not substantially improve.

"To simply transform the camps, upgrade the camps, upgrade the houses, for example, but leave them in the same situation will not be a solution," he said.

Myanmar must "show results" to convince Rohingya refugees to return, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said Friday at the end of his first visit to Myanmar since the crackdown against Rohingya Muslims in 2017.

Myanmar must "show results" to convince Rohingya refugees to return, the UN’s High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said Friday at the end of his first visit to Myanmar since the crackdown against Rohingya Muslims in 2017. A brutal military campaign in western Rakhine state forced some 740,000 Rohingya over the border into Bangladesh. Around one million Rohingya now languish in sprawling refugee camps from various waves of persecution. A UN fact-finding mission called for Myanmar’s top generals to be prosecuted for "genocide" and the International Criminal Court (ICC) has started preliminary investigations. During his visit Grandi spoke with both Rohingya and ethnic Rakhine Buddhist communities in Maungdaw and Buthidaung in northern Rakhine, the epicentre of the violence. He also held discussions with officials in capital Naypyidaw, including civilian leader Aung San Suu Kyi, describing all talks as "constructive". "My message is, 'please accelerate', because it has been very slow in the implementation in this first year. We need to show results," he told AFP in an interview in Yangon. "This is not enough to convince people to come back," he said. Grandi visited the camps in Bangladesh in April. The two countries have signed a repatriation agreement but so far virtually no refugees have returned, fearing for their safety and unconvinced they will be granted citizenship. Myanmar pejoratively labels the Rohingya as "Bengali", implying they are illegal interlopers and the community has had its rights eroded over decades. Gaining independent access to northern Rakhine is difficult with most journalists, observers and diplomats only allowed on brief chaperoned visits. Grandi defended the UNHCR’s involvement in a plan by the Bangladeshi government to move some 100,000 refugees onto low-lying island Bhashan Char. The area in the Bay of Bengal is prone to flooding and cyclones. Rights groups oppose the scheme that has also so far been universally rejected by the Rohingya themselves. The refugee agency must be "involved" to have the necessary information in order to take a stance on the issue, Grandi said. "We’re still at that stage, no more than that." He also visited camps near Rakhine’s capital Sittwe, where nearly 130,000 Rohingya have been confined since a previous bout of violence in 2012. Myanmar has announced it will close the camps but many are sceptical the displaced will enjoy more freedoms. Grandi said the UNHCR would reconsider its role in providing services if conditions did not substantially improve. "To simply transform the camps, upgrade the camps, upgrade the houses, for example, but leave them in the same situation will not be a solution," he said.

'Results' needed from Myanmar over Rohingya return: UNHCR head

Sudan's second new military leader in as many days vowed Saturday to "uproot" deposed president <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudan-should-ensure-civilian-led-transition-sooner-than-two-years-us-209707">Omar al-Bashir's regime</a> and release protesters, in a bid to placate demonstrators demanding civilian rule.&nbsp;

"I announce the restructuring of state institutions according to the law and pledge to fight corruption and uproot the regime and its symbols," General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said, a day after he was sworn in to head Sudan's new ruling military council.

He also ordered the release of all prisoners jailed by special emergency courts and the immediate lifting of a night-time curfew imposed by the council earlier this week.

Career soldier Burhan took the helm of Sudan's transitional military council on Friday when his predecessor General Awad Ibn Ouf -- a close aide of ousted veteran president Bashir -- quit after little more than 24 hours in power.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/alaa-salah-sudans-singing-protester-who-fights-for-people-209816">Also read:&nbsp;Sudan's singing protester Alaa Salah who fights for people</a>

Burhan also pledged Saturday that individuals implicated in killing protesters would face justice.

His initial announcements indicated he wanted to show the tens of thousands of protesters on the streets that he is not part of the regime's old guard and was genuinely committed to reform.

He also accepted the resignation of the head of the feared National Intelligence and Security Service, Salah Abdallah Mohammed Salih -- widely known as Salih Ghosh -- the military council announced.

Salih Ghosh had overseen a sweeping crackdown against protesters in four months of mass demonstrations that led to the army's toppling of Bashir on Thursday.

Demand for civilian rule

Dozens of protesters were killed and thousands of activists, opposition leaders and journalists arrested.

The police said Friday that 16 people had been killed in live fire in Khartoum alone over the previous two days as NISS agents led a last stand for Bashir before the army intervened.

But in a statement Saturday evening, Burhan said the deputy chief of the NISS was a member of the newly formed 10-member council which also includes the police chief and military figures.

Burhan named as the council's deputy Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, who is also known as Himeidti, field commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) counter-insurgency unit, which rights groups have accused of abuses in war-torn Darfur.

A photograph published by state news agency SUNA had shown Burhan talking with protesters outside army headquarters on Friday, before his elevation to the top job.

Khartoum erupted with joy when Ibn Ouf tendered his resignation on Friday night barely 24 hours after taking the oath of office.

But protest organisers urged demonstrators to keep up their week-old vigil outside army headquarters.

Ibn Ouf had served as Bashir's defence minister right up to the president's downfall, ending three decades of iron-fisted rule.

A former military intelligence chief, Ibn Ouf remains under US sanctions for his role in the regime's brutal response to a 2003 ethnic minority rebellion in Darfur region.

Bashir himself came to power in a 1989 Islamist military coup, toppling an elected government led by Sadiq al-Mahdi.&nbsp;

Burhan comes with less baggage from Bashir's deeply unpopular rule than Ibn Ouf.

The grass-roots Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) composed of doctors, teachers and engineers, has spearheaded the nationwide protests.&nbsp;

While welcoming Ibn Ouf's departure, it demanded that Burhan swiftly "transfer the powers of the military council to a transitional civilian government" and said it would continue to stage sit-ins to that end.

'Violating the constitution'

Bashir remained in custody and his National Congress Party on Saturday urged the military council to release arrested members.

"We consider (the) taking of power by the military council as violating the constitution's legitimacy," the NCP said in a statement.

"The NCP rejects the detention of its leaders, among them its acting president" Ahmed Harun, it added, calling for their immediate release.

Outside the Middle East, the formation of a military government to replace Bashir has met with widespread criticism.

The African Union said Bashir's overthrow by the military was "not the appropriate response to the challenges facing Sudan and the aspirations of its people".

The Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) called for dialogue and a peaceful transition of power, in a joint statement from their summit in Ndjamena, Chad.

The European Union urged the army to carry out a "swift" handover to civilian rule, and former colonial ruler Britain said that the two-year transition announced by the military "is not the answer."

"We need to see a swift move to an inclusive, representative, civilian leadership," said Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

But Saudi Arabia backed the transitional military council and promised an aid package including, wheat, medicine and "petroleum products", the Saudi Press Agency reported Saturday.

Members of the military council have sought to reassure foreign diplomats about its intentions.

"This is not a military coup, but taking the side of the people," the council's political chief Lieutenant General Omar Zain al-Abdin told Arab and African diplomats at a meeting broadcast on state television on Friday.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has longstanding arrest warrants against Bashir for suspected genocide and war crimes during the regime's brutal campaign of repression in Darfur.

But the military council has said it would never extradite him or any other Sudanese citizen.

Sudan's second new military leader in as many days vowed Saturday to "uproot" deposed president Omar al-Bashir's regime and release protesters, in a bid to placate demonstrators demanding civilian rule.

Sudan's second new military leader in as many days vowed Saturday to "uproot" deposed president Omar al-Bashir's regime and release protesters, in a bid to placate demonstrators demanding civilian rule. "I announce the restructuring of state institutions according to the law and pledge to fight corruption and uproot the regime and its symbols," General Abdel Fattah al-Burhan said, a day after he was sworn in to head Sudan's new ruling military council. He also ordered the release of all prisoners jailed by special emergency courts and the immediate lifting of a night-time curfew imposed by the council earlier this week. Career soldier Burhan took the helm of Sudan's transitional military council on Friday when his predecessor General Awad Ibn Ouf -- a close aide of ousted veteran president Bashir -- quit after little more than 24 hours in power. Also read: Sudan's singing protester Alaa Salah who fights for people Burhan also pledged Saturday that individuals implicated in killing protesters would face justice. His initial announcements indicated he wanted to show the tens of thousands of protesters on the streets that he is not part of the regime's old guard and was genuinely committed to reform. He also accepted the resignation of the head of the feared National Intelligence and Security Service, Salah Abdallah Mohammed Salih -- widely known as Salih Ghosh -- the military council announced. Salih Ghosh had overseen a sweeping crackdown against protesters in four months of mass demonstrations that led to the army's toppling of Bashir on Thursday. Demand for civilian rule Dozens of protesters were killed and thousands of activists, opposition leaders and journalists arrested. The police said Friday that 16 people had been killed in live fire in Khartoum alone over the previous two days as NISS agents led a last stand for Bashir before the army intervened. But in a statement Saturday evening, Burhan said the deputy chief of the NISS was a member of the newly formed 10-member council which also includes the police chief and military figures. Burhan named as the council's deputy Mohammad Hamdan Daglo, who is also known as Himeidti, field commander of the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) counter-insurgency unit, which rights groups have accused of abuses in war-torn Darfur. A photograph published by state news agency SUNA had shown Burhan talking with protesters outside army headquarters on Friday, before his elevation to the top job. Khartoum erupted with joy when Ibn Ouf tendered his resignation on Friday night barely 24 hours after taking the oath of office. But protest organisers urged demonstrators to keep up their week-old vigil outside army headquarters. Ibn Ouf had served as Bashir's defence minister right up to the president's downfall, ending three decades of iron-fisted rule. A former military intelligence chief, Ibn Ouf remains under US sanctions for his role in the regime's brutal response to a 2003 ethnic minority rebellion in Darfur region. Bashir himself came to power in a 1989 Islamist military coup, toppling an elected government led by Sadiq al-Mahdi. Burhan comes with less baggage from Bashir's deeply unpopular rule than Ibn Ouf. The grass-roots Sudanese Professionals Association (SPA) composed of doctors, teachers and engineers, has spearheaded the nationwide protests. While welcoming Ibn Ouf's departure, it demanded that Burhan swiftly "transfer the powers of the military council to a transitional civilian government" and said it would continue to stage sit-ins to that end. 'Violating the constitution' Bashir remained in custody and his National Congress Party on Saturday urged the military council to release arrested members. "We consider (the) taking of power by the military council as violating the constitution's legitimacy," the NCP said in a statement. "The NCP rejects the detention of its leaders, among them its acting president" Ahmed Harun, it added, calling for their immediate release. Outside the Middle East, the formation of a military government to replace Bashir has met with widespread criticism. The African Union said Bashir's overthrow by the military was "not the appropriate response to the challenges facing Sudan and the aspirations of its people". The Community of Sahel-Saharan States (CEN-SAD) called for dialogue and a peaceful transition of power, in a joint statement from their summit in Ndjamena, Chad. The European Union urged the army to carry out a "swift" handover to civilian rule, and former colonial ruler Britain said that the two-year transition announced by the military "is not the answer." "We need to see a swift move to an inclusive, representative, civilian leadership," said Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt. But Saudi Arabia backed the transitional military council and promised an aid package including, wheat, medicine and "petroleum products", the Saudi Press Agency reported Saturday. Members of the military council have sought to reassure foreign diplomats about its intentions. "This is not a military coup, but taking the side of the people," the council's political chief Lieutenant General Omar Zain al-Abdin told Arab and African diplomats at a meeting broadcast on state television on Friday. The International Criminal Court (ICC) has longstanding arrest warrants against Bashir for suspected genocide and war crimes during the regime's brutal campaign of repression in Darfur. But the military council has said it would never extradite him or any other Sudanese citizen.

Sudan coup: New military ruler vows to 'uproot' deposed president's regime

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sudans-ousted-president-bashir-will-not-be-extradited-military-rulers-209837">Sudan ousted president Omar al-Bashir</a>'s party on Saturday urged the country's new ruling military council to release their leaders.

"We consider the military council's power grab a violation of constitutional law," the National Congress Party said in a statement.

"The NCP rejects the detention of its leaders, among them its acting president and a large number of prominent members, and calls for their immediate release."

The military on Friday stated that they will not extradite Bashir.

"The president is currently in custody," the head of the military council's political committee, Lieutenant General Omar Zain al-Abdin, told a news conference.

Meanwhile, the military leaders also reached out to the people and reassured them that their only concern was to maintain public order.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued two arrest warrants against Bashir accusing him of organising war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's Dafur region between 2003 and 2008.

(With inputs from AFP)

Sudan ousted president Omar al-Bashir's party on Saturday urged the country's new ruling military council to release their leaders. "We consider the military council's power grab a violation of constitutional law," the National Congress Party said in a statement.

Sudan ousted president Omar al-Bashir's party on Saturday urged the country's new ruling military council to release their leaders. "We consider the military council's power grab a violation of constitutional law," the National Congress Party said in a statement. "The NCP rejects the detention of its leaders, among them its acting president and a large number of prominent members, and calls for their immediate release." The military on Friday stated that they will not extradite Bashir. "The president is currently in custody," the head of the military council's political committee, Lieutenant General Omar Zain al-Abdin, told a news conference. Meanwhile, the military leaders also reached out to the people and reassured them that their only concern was to maintain public order. The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued two arrest warrants against Bashir accusing him of organising war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's Dafur region between 2003 and 2008. (With inputs from AFP)

Sudan ousted president Bashir's party urges release of leaders: Report

The Philippines is poised to officially quit the International Criminal Court on Sunday, though the beleaguered tribunal has pledged to pursue its examination of possible crimes in the government's deadly drug war.

Manila's withdrawal is to become final a year after it told the United Nations that it was quitting the world's only permanent war crimes tribunal, the second nation to do so.

"The Secretary-General... informed all concerned states that the withdrawal will take effect for the Philippines on 17 March," UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko told AFP.

The departure of the Philippines follows the court being hit in recent years by high-profile acquittals and moves by several nations to drop out.&nbsp;

Manila moved to quit after the body launched a preliminary examination in 2018 of President Rodrigo Duterte's drug crackdown that has killed thousands and drawn international censure.&nbsp;

Duterte's drug war is his signature policy initiative and he defends it fiercely, especially from international critics like Western leaders and institutions which he says don't care about his country.

However, court officials have said the preliminary probe launched by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in February 2018 into possible crimes against humanity in the drug war would continue.

Under the court's rules, any matter under consideration before a nation leaves the court is still under its jurisdiction.

String of setbacks

Duterte has made it clear his government will not cooperate with the ICC in any way.

"The court "can never acquire jurisdiction over my person. Not in a million years," he said in a speech on Wednesday.&nbsp;

The examination, which is one step before a full-blown probe, zeroes in on allegations the government has been involved in illegal killings as part of the crackdown Duterte launched in mid-2016.

Police say they have killed 5,176 users or pushers who resisted arrest, but rights groups say the actual number of dead is at least triple that number.&nbsp;

Critics have alleged the crackdown amounts to a war on the poor that feeds an undercurrent of impunity and lawlessness in the nation of 106 million.

The Philippines' move to exit follows a string of setbacks for the ICC, including the January acquittal of former Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo and the June 2018 not guilty verdict for former DR Congo vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba.

Burundi in 2017 became the first-ever nation to leave the court, which was founded in 2002.

In a wave of unprecedented defections, other African nations -- Zambia, South Africa, Kenya and Gambia -- have also made moves to quit or expressed interest in withdrawing as they accused the court of being biased against Africans.

However, earlier in March, the court got a boost when Malaysia officially joined, making it one of just a handful of Asian members.

The Philippines is poised to officially quit the International Criminal Court on Sunday, though the beleaguered tribunal has pledged to pursue its examination of possible crimes in the government's deadly drug war.

The Philippines is poised to officially quit the International Criminal Court on Sunday, though the beleaguered tribunal has pledged to pursue its examination of possible crimes in the government's deadly drug war. Manila's withdrawal is to become final a year after it told the United Nations that it was quitting the world's only permanent war crimes tribunal, the second nation to do so. "The Secretary-General... informed all concerned states that the withdrawal will take effect for the Philippines on 17 March," UN spokesperson Eri Kaneko told AFP. The departure of the Philippines follows the court being hit in recent years by high-profile acquittals and moves by several nations to drop out. Manila moved to quit after the body launched a preliminary examination in 2018 of President Rodrigo Duterte's drug crackdown that has killed thousands and drawn international censure. Duterte's drug war is his signature policy initiative and he defends it fiercely, especially from international critics like Western leaders and institutions which he says don't care about his country. However, court officials have said the preliminary probe launched by ICC prosecutor Fatou Bensouda in February 2018 into possible crimes against humanity in the drug war would continue. Under the court's rules, any matter under consideration before a nation leaves the court is still under its jurisdiction. String of setbacks Duterte has made it clear his government will not cooperate with the ICC in any way. "The court "can never acquire jurisdiction over my person. Not in a million years," he said in a speech on Wednesday. The examination, which is one step before a full-blown probe, zeroes in on allegations the government has been involved in illegal killings as part of the crackdown Duterte launched in mid-2016. Police say they have killed 5,176 users or pushers who resisted arrest, but rights groups say the actual number of dead is at least triple that number. Critics have alleged the crackdown amounts to a war on the poor that feeds an undercurrent of impunity and lawlessness in the nation of 106 million. The Philippines' move to exit follows a string of setbacks for the ICC, including the January acquittal of former Ivory Coast leader Laurent Gbagbo and the June 2018 not guilty verdict for former DR Congo vice-president Jean-Pierre Bemba. Burundi in 2017 became the first-ever nation to leave the court, which was founded in 2002. In a wave of unprecedented defections, other African nations -- Zambia, South Africa, Kenya and Gambia -- have also made moves to quit or expressed interest in withdrawing as they accused the court of being biased against Africans. However, earlier in March, the court got a boost when Malaysia officially joined, making it one of just a handful of Asian members.

Philippines set to leave International Criminal Court over drug war inquiry

The United States will withdraw or deny visas to any International Criminal Court personnel investigating possible war crimes by US forces or allies in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday.

The court, which sits in The Hague, responded that it was an independent and impartial institution and would continue to do its work "undeterred" by Washington`s actions.

The Trump administration threatened in September to ban ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the United States and sanction funds they have there if the court launched a probe of war crimes in Afghanistan.

Washington took the first step on Friday with Pompeo`s announcement.

"I`m announcing a policy of US visa restrictions on those individuals directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel," Pompeo told a news conference in Washington.

"These visa restrictions may also be used to deter ICC efforts to pursue allied personnel, including Israelis, without allies` consent."&nbsp;

Pompeo said the policy was already being implemented but would not elaborate, citing visa privacy laws.

"These visa restrictions will not be the end of our efforts," he said. "We`re prepared to take additional steps, including economic sanctions, if the ICC does not change its course."

Human Rights Watch called the announcement a "thuggish attempt to penalise investigators" at the court.

"Taking action against those who work for the ICC sends a clear message to torturers and murderers alike: Their crimes may continue unchecked," the group`s Washington director, Andrea Prasow, said, calling on US lawmakers to express support for the court.

In November 2017, the ICC prosecutor requested authorization from judges to initiate an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan since May 1, 2003, including in states where the CIA held prisoners.&nbsp;

Judges are reviewing all material submitted by the prosecutor, and must decide whether or not to authorise an investigation.&nbsp;

With 123 member states, including the entire European Union, the ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide or crimes against humanity when a country is unable or unwilling to prosecute perpetrators. Major powers, including the United States, China and Russia, are not members.

A State Department official said the United States would allow court officials to travel for meetings to the United Nations headquarters in New York. 
"Under these measures, we will not interfere with travel to the UN for official UN purposes," the official said. The ICC is not part of the United Nations.

The United States will withdraw or deny visas to any International Criminal Court personnel investigating possible war crimes by US forces or allies in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday.

The United States will withdraw or deny visas to any International Criminal Court personnel investigating possible war crimes by US forces or allies in Afghanistan, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Friday. The court, which sits in The Hague, responded that it was an independent and impartial institution and would continue to do its work "undeterred" by Washington`s actions. The Trump administration threatened in September to ban ICC judges and prosecutors from entering the United States and sanction funds they have there if the court launched a probe of war crimes in Afghanistan. Washington took the first step on Friday with Pompeo`s announcement. "I`m announcing a policy of US visa restrictions on those individuals directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel," Pompeo told a news conference in Washington. "These visa restrictions may also be used to deter ICC efforts to pursue allied personnel, including Israelis, without allies` consent." Pompeo said the policy was already being implemented but would not elaborate, citing visa privacy laws. "These visa restrictions will not be the end of our efforts," he said. "We`re prepared to take additional steps, including economic sanctions, if the ICC does not change its course." Human Rights Watch called the announcement a "thuggish attempt to penalise investigators" at the court. "Taking action against those who work for the ICC sends a clear message to torturers and murderers alike: Their crimes may continue unchecked," the group`s Washington director, Andrea Prasow, said, calling on US lawmakers to express support for the court. In November 2017, the ICC prosecutor requested authorization from judges to initiate an investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Afghanistan since May 1, 2003, including in states where the CIA held prisoners. Judges are reviewing all material submitted by the prosecutor, and must decide whether or not to authorise an investigation. With 123 member states, including the entire European Union, the ICC was established in 2002 to prosecute war crimes, genocide or crimes against humanity when a country is unable or unwilling to prosecute perpetrators. Major powers, including the United States, China and Russia, are not members. A State Department official said the United States would allow court officials to travel for meetings to the United Nations headquarters in New York. "Under these measures, we will not interfere with travel to the UN for official UN purposes," the official said. The ICC is not part of the United Nations.

US imposes visa bans on International Criminal Court investigators: Pompeo

The people responsible for the atrocities that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee from Myanmar's Rakhine state will be held to account, an International Criminal Court official said on Monday.

Following a visit to&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;refugee camps, the ICC's Phakiso Mochochoko said the fact that Myanmar is not a signatory to the Hague-based international court "will not in any way be a hindrance" to an investigation.

"It may present a little bit of challenge for us in terms of investigation, but we have faced a situation like this in the past and we've been able to deal with them," the court's director of jurisdiction told reporters in the capital Dhaka.

Mochochoko made the comments after leading a delegation to&nbsp;Bangladesh's southeastern Cox's Bazar district, home to around one million Rohingya refugees.

The delegation, however, clarified that its visit to the camps was not a part of any investigation but to collect insights for an ongoing assessment of the office of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda whether to warrant a full investigation.

"A preliminary examination is not an investigation, but an assessment of the Rome Statute criteria to decide whether an investigation into the situation at hand is warranted," he said.

"Therefore during this mission, as is standard practice of the Office, the delegation did not collect evidence or perform any other investigative activities," Mochochoko said.

About 740,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state to&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;since August 2017 following a brutal military crackdown that UN officials described as "ethnic cleansing". Thousands more arrived in previous years following earlier bouts of anti-Rohingya violence.

Mochochoko said the preliminary probe would be "all about individual responsibility".

"The people who are responsible, the people who gave instruction, the people who commanded, the people who did all the other things and facilitated the commission of this crime," he said.

"The prosecutor is bound or intended to ensure that accountability for the suffering of the Rohingya people is met and those who are responsible for the atrocity that happened there are brought to account," he added.

The visit came after judges last year ruled that even though Myanmar has not signed up to the Hague-based ICC, the court still has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;is a member.

Last month Organisation of Islamic Cooperation -- of which&nbsp;Bangladesh&nbsp;is a member -- in a meeting in Abu Dhabi unanimously adopted a resolution to move at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for establishing the legal rights of the Rohingya and addressing the question of accountability and justice, Dhaka's foreign ministry said.

Myanmar's army has denied nearly all wrongdoing, insisting its campaign was justified to root out Rohingya insurgents who staged deadly raids on border posts in August 2017.

The people responsible for the atrocities that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee from Myanmar's Rakhine state will be held to account, an International Criminal Court official said on Monday.

The people responsible for the atrocities that forced hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims to flee from Myanmar's Rakhine state will be held to account, an International Criminal Court official said on Monday. Following a visit to Bangladesh refugee camps, the ICC's Phakiso Mochochoko said the fact that Myanmar is not a signatory to the Hague-based international court "will not in any way be a hindrance" to an investigation. "It may present a little bit of challenge for us in terms of investigation, but we have faced a situation like this in the past and we've been able to deal with them," the court's director of jurisdiction told reporters in the capital Dhaka. Mochochoko made the comments after leading a delegation to Bangladesh's southeastern Cox's Bazar district, home to around one million Rohingya refugees. The delegation, however, clarified that its visit to the camps was not a part of any investigation but to collect insights for an ongoing assessment of the office of prosecutor Fatou Bensouda whether to warrant a full investigation. "A preliminary examination is not an investigation, but an assessment of the Rome Statute criteria to decide whether an investigation into the situation at hand is warranted," he said. "Therefore during this mission, as is standard practice of the Office, the delegation did not collect evidence or perform any other investigative activities," Mochochoko said. About 740,000 Rohingya have fled Rakhine state to Bangladesh since August 2017 following a brutal military crackdown that UN officials described as "ethnic cleansing". Thousands more arrived in previous years following earlier bouts of anti-Rohingya violence. Mochochoko said the preliminary probe would be "all about individual responsibility". "The people who are responsible, the people who gave instruction, the people who commanded, the people who did all the other things and facilitated the commission of this crime," he said. "The prosecutor is bound or intended to ensure that accountability for the suffering of the Rohingya people is met and those who are responsible for the atrocity that happened there are brought to account," he added. The visit came after judges last year ruled that even though Myanmar has not signed up to the Hague-based ICC, the court still has jurisdiction over crimes against the Rohingya because Bangladesh is a member. Last month Organisation of Islamic Cooperation -- of which Bangladesh is a member -- in a meeting in Abu Dhabi unanimously adopted a resolution to move at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) for establishing the legal rights of the Rohingya and addressing the question of accountability and justice, Dhaka's foreign ministry said. Myanmar's army has denied nearly all wrongdoing, insisting its campaign was justified to root out Rohingya insurgents who staged deadly raids on border posts in August 2017.

Individuals responsible for Rohingya atrocities will face justice: International Criminal Court

A United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar voiced deep concern on Monday at Bangladesh's plan to relocate 23,000 <a href="http://www.wionews.com/south-asia/dozens-of-rohingya-found-on-malaysian-beach-officials-200586">Rohingya refugees</a> to a remote island in April, saying that it may not be habitable, creating a potential "new crisis".

Bangladesh says moving the refugees to Bhasan Char — which means "floating island" — will ease chronic overcrowding in its camps at Cox's Bazar, which hold some 730,000 Rohingya. The UN&nbsp;says the Muslim minority fled mass killings and rapes committed during an army crackdown in western Rakhine state since August 2017.

Some humanitarian groups have criticised the relocation plan, saying the island is vulnerable to frequent cyclones and cannot provide a livelihood for thousands of people.

"There are a number of things that remain unknown to me even following my visit, chief among them being whether the island is truly habitable," said Yanghee Lee, UN&nbsp;special rapporteur on Myanmar, who visited the island in the Bay of Bengal in January.

"Ill-planned relocation, and relocations without the consent of the refugees concerned, have the potential to create a new crisis. It is incumbent on the government of Bangladesh to ensure that this is not brought about," she told the UN&nbsp;Human Rights Council.

There was no immediate reaction from the Dhaka government.

Lee, who is banned by Myanmar's government from visiting, also told the Geneva forum that up to 10,000 civilians are reported to have fled their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state since November due to violence and a lack of humanitarian aid.

She urged the UN&nbsp;Security Council to refer alleged atrocities against Rohingya and other ethnic groups in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and encouraged Yangon to accept its jurisdiction.

But Myanmar's ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, promptly rejected this, saying the Hague-based court had "no jurisdiction over Myanmar whatsoever".

"Whilst the governrnent is unable to accept this legally dubious intervention by the ICC, Myanmar is fully committed to ensuring accountability where there is credible evidence of human rights violations committed in Rakhine State," he said.

The most pressing task is to focus on a speedy start to repatriating the refugees, he said, without using the word 'Rohingya' - who are mostly stateless in Myanmar. 
&nbsp;

A United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar voiced deep concern on Monday at Bangladesh's plan to relocate 23,000 Rohingya refugees to a remote island in April, saying that it may not be habitable, creating a potential "new crisis".

A United Nations human rights investigator on Myanmar voiced deep concern on Monday at Bangladesh's plan to relocate 23,000 Rohingya refugees to a remote island in April, saying that it may not be habitable, creating a potential "new crisis". Bangladesh says moving the refugees to Bhasan Char — which means "floating island" — will ease chronic overcrowding in its camps at Cox's Bazar, which hold some 730,000 Rohingya. The UN says the Muslim minority fled mass killings and rapes committed during an army crackdown in western Rakhine state since August 2017. Some humanitarian groups have criticised the relocation plan, saying the island is vulnerable to frequent cyclones and cannot provide a livelihood for thousands of people. "There are a number of things that remain unknown to me even following my visit, chief among them being whether the island is truly habitable," said Yanghee Lee, UN special rapporteur on Myanmar, who visited the island in the Bay of Bengal in January. "Ill-planned relocation, and relocations without the consent of the refugees concerned, have the potential to create a new crisis. It is incumbent on the government of Bangladesh to ensure that this is not brought about," she told the UN Human Rights Council. There was no immediate reaction from the Dhaka government. Lee, who is banned by Myanmar's government from visiting, also told the Geneva forum that up to 10,000 civilians are reported to have fled their homes in Myanmar's Rakhine state since November due to violence and a lack of humanitarian aid. She urged the UN Security Council to refer alleged atrocities against Rohingya and other ethnic groups in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court (ICC) and encouraged Yangon to accept its jurisdiction. But Myanmar's ambassador, Kyaw Moe Tun, promptly rejected this, saying the Hague-based court had "no jurisdiction over Myanmar whatsoever". "Whilst the governrnent is unable to accept this legally dubious intervention by the ICC, Myanmar is fully committed to ensuring accountability where there is credible evidence of human rights violations committed in Rakhine State," he said. The most pressing task is to focus on a speedy start to repatriating the refugees, he said, without using the word 'Rohingya' - who are mostly stateless in Myanmar.

United Nations envoy fears 'new crisis' for Rohingya if moved to Bangladesh island

Myanmar's powerful army chief has given a rare foreign media interview to insist there was no "certain proof" the military had persecuted the country's stateless Rohingya Muslim community.

Around 740,000 Rohingya fled over the border into Bangladesh after a bloody military campaign in 2017.

The UN condemned the crackdown as ethnic cleansing and investigators called for top military leaders, including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to be prosecuted for genocide.

But the military has maintained its operations were justified to root out Rohingya insurgents following a series of deadly attacks on police posts and has denied nearly all allegations of wrongdoing.

In an interview Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper published Friday, Min Aung Hlaing doubled down on previous claims, arguing "there is no certain proof that the national army was involved in the persecution" of Rohingya. The army chief added that accusations the military committed atrocities "hurts the nation's dignity".

Min Aung Hlaing rarely speaks to the press and has instead preferred to communicate over Facebook, but the social media giant kicked him off the platform last year for his role in stoking hate speech.

His comments were at odds with testimony from Rohingya in the crowded, sprawling camps in Bangladesh.

The refugees have recounted widespread murder, rape, torture and the burning of entire villages to the ground at the hands of Myanmar soldiers.

A UN probe report released in September also outlined atrocities committed by the military in meticulous and searing detail.

It said Myanmar's "clearance operations" were disproportionate to the insurgent attacks and cited prior troop deployments as evidence of premeditation.

Investigators called for Myanmar to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) but any road to prosecution would be long and fraught with political difficulties at the UN.

Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government remains in a fragile power-sharing agreement with the military, which holds three key ministries and a quarter of parliamentary seats.

Suu Kyi's international reputation lies in tatters for refusing to stand up for the Rohingya. In Myanmar, the Rohingya are widely seen as interlopers from Bangladesh and have been denied citizenship, rights and access to services for decades under what Amnesty International calls apartheid-like conditions.

Myanmar's powerful army chief has given a rare foreign media interview to insist there was no "certain proof" the military had persecuted the country's stateless Rohingya Muslim community.

Myanmar's powerful army chief has given a rare foreign media interview to insist there was no "certain proof" the military had persecuted the country's stateless Rohingya Muslim community. Around 740,000 Rohingya fled over the border into Bangladesh after a bloody military campaign in 2017. The UN condemned the crackdown as ethnic cleansing and investigators called for top military leaders, including Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, to be prosecuted for genocide. But the military has maintained its operations were justified to root out Rohingya insurgents following a series of deadly attacks on police posts and has denied nearly all allegations of wrongdoing. In an interview Japan's Asahi Shimbun newspaper published Friday, Min Aung Hlaing doubled down on previous claims, arguing "there is no certain proof that the national army was involved in the persecution" of Rohingya. The army chief added that accusations the military committed atrocities "hurts the nation's dignity". Min Aung Hlaing rarely speaks to the press and has instead preferred to communicate over Facebook, but the social media giant kicked him off the platform last year for his role in stoking hate speech. His comments were at odds with testimony from Rohingya in the crowded, sprawling camps in Bangladesh. The refugees have recounted widespread murder, rape, torture and the burning of entire villages to the ground at the hands of Myanmar soldiers. A UN probe report released in September also outlined atrocities committed by the military in meticulous and searing detail. It said Myanmar's "clearance operations" were disproportionate to the insurgent attacks and cited prior troop deployments as evidence of premeditation. Investigators called for Myanmar to be referred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) but any road to prosecution would be long and fraught with political difficulties at the UN. Aung San Suu Kyi's civilian government remains in a fragile power-sharing agreement with the military, which holds three key ministries and a quarter of parliamentary seats. Suu Kyi's international reputation lies in tatters for refusing to stand up for the Rohingya. In Myanmar, the Rohingya are widely seen as interlopers from Bangladesh and have been denied citizenship, rights and access to services for decades under what Amnesty International calls apartheid-like conditions.

'No proof' Myanmar military persecuted Rohingya: Army chief

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