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ICC to investigate attacks on peacekeepers in Darfur

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-18 12:36

UNITED NATIONS -- The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) Luis Moreno-Ocampo said Thursday that attacks against peacekeepers in Sudan's strife-torn Darfur region will be investigated by the court.

"Any attack against peacekeepers is a crime under my jurisdiction," Moreno-Ocampo told reporters at the UN Headquarters in New York.

A Rwandan soldier from the United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) watches girls fetching water on donkeys go past in the town of Tawila, North Darfur in this handout picture taken July 2, 2008. [Agencies]

Moreno-Ocampo said he is investigating last September's attack by rebels on the South Darfur town of Haskanita, which resulted in the deaths of several African Union (AU) peacekeepers, and said he has the names of the alleged perpetrators.

"We have the names of two commanders who were allegedly responsible for this (attack)," he stated. "We are still looking for the evidence."

The prosecutor called on the rebels to "provide evidence ... and stop any crimes," reiterating that "anytime they commit any attack against peacekeepers, it is under my jurisdiction and I will investigate that."

His comments came as another peacekeeper serving with the jointUN-AU force in Darfur (UNAMID) was killed Wednesday while on patrol in the region, just one week after seven blue helmets with the mission were slain.

Earlier this week, Moreno-Ocampo presented evidence to the ICC against Sudanese President Omar Al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur, including genocide.

In response to a question, he said this accusation was not made out of political considerations.

"I did it when I had my evidence ready and the value of the evidence will be analyzed by the judges," he said.