BRUSSELS, July 18 (KUNA) -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) Thursday rejected the Libyan authorities' request to suspend the surrender of Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi, son of late Libyan leader Muammar Al Gaddafi , and said that Libya is currently obliged to surrender Gaddafi to the court.
An ICC statement noted that the Libyan authorities had filed, on 7 June 2013, a request for suspending the surrender of Saif Al-Islam pending the outcome of its appeal against the ICC Appeals Chamber decision rejecting the Libyan admissibility challenge regarding the case.
The Appeals Chamber argued that it was not convinced by the reasons provided as to why the surrender of Gaddafi to the Court would create, for the Libyan authorities, an irreversible situation or one that would be very difficult to correct, it noted.
The situation in Libya was referred to the ICC Prosecutor by the United Nations Security Council, through Resolution 1970 on 26 February 2011.
On 27 June 2011, the Hague-based court issued warrants of arrest for Muammar Mohammed Abu Minyar Gaddafi, Saif Al-Islam Gaddafi and Abdullah Al-Senussi for crimes against humanity committed across Libya from 15 February 2011 until at least 28 February 2011, through the state apparatus and security forces.
On 22 November 2011, the ICC formally terminated the case against Muammar Gaddafi due to his death. (end) nk.ibi KUNA 182015 Jul 13NNNN