Tripoli:
The chief prosecutor for the International Criminal Court said on Wednesday he was investigating whether Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi provided Viagra-type drugs to Libyan soldiers to promote the rape of women during the current conflict.
Luis Moreno Ocampo said his office had "information that there was a policy to rape in Libya those who were against the government."
He told a news conference in New York after briefing the UN Security Council on Darfur that some witnesses confirmed the Libyan government was buying containers of Viagra-type drugs to carry out the policy, and "to enhance the possibility to rape."
"We are trying to see who was involved," Moreno Ocampo added.
He said it was difficult to know how widespread the use of rape is in Libya.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously on February 26 to refer the Libyan crisis to the International Criminal Court, the world's permanent war crimes tribunal.
On May 16, Moreno Ocampo asked judges to issue arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam Gaddafi and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanoussi, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity by targeting civilians in a crackdown against rebels who are trying to end his more than 40 year rule.
Judges are now evaluating the evidence and must decide whether to confirm the charges and issue international arrest warrants.
If the arrest warrants are issued, Moreno Ocampo said he may add the charge of rape to the case.
Luis Moreno Ocampo said his office had "information that there was a policy to rape in Libya those who were against the government."
He told a news conference in New York after briefing the UN Security Council on Darfur that some witnesses confirmed the Libyan government was buying containers of Viagra-type drugs to carry out the policy, and "to enhance the possibility to rape."
"We are trying to see who was involved," Moreno Ocampo added.
He said it was difficult to know how widespread the use of rape is in Libya.
The UN Security Council voted unanimously on February 26 to refer the Libyan crisis to the International Criminal Court, the world's permanent war crimes tribunal.
On May 16, Moreno Ocampo asked judges to issue arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Seif al-Islam Gaddafi and intelligence chief Abdullah al-Sanoussi, accusing them of committing crimes against humanity by targeting civilians in a crackdown against rebels who are trying to end his more than 40 year rule.
Judges are now evaluating the evidence and must decide whether to confirm the charges and issue international arrest warrants.
If the arrest warrants are issued, Moreno Ocampo said he may add the charge of rape to the case.
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