Libyan doctors living in South Africa and the DA have welcomed the international arrest warrant for the leader of their war-torn country, Muammar Gaddafi.
But President Jacob Zuma has expressed disappointment.
“President Zuma is extremely disappointed and concerned over the issuing of a warrant by the International Criminal Court against Colonel Gaddafi,” presidential spokesman Zizi Kodwa said.
“It’s unfortunate that the ICC could take such a decision while the AU through its ad hoc committee has done so much. Progress so far signals that there’s a commitment now from both the Libyan authority led by Colonel Gaddafi and the Transitional National Council.”
Issuing the warrant for crimes against humanity undermined the work of the AU committee, he said.
DA spokesman Stevens Mokgalapa called on the AU and the South African government “to support the ICC’s decision, particularly as South Africa’s constitution recognises the validity of international law”.
“South Africa could not sit by and allow the dire humanitarian situation in Libya to deteriorate further. Those responsible for the atrocities committed in Libya should be held to account, he said.
The ICC’s decision followed Sunday’s meeting of the AU’s high-level ad hoc committee on Libya in Pretoria.
The AU’s subsequent announcement that Gaddafi had agreed not to participate in the peace negotiation process was a positive development, and an important step towards bringing greater stability to Libya.
Gaddafi had lost all legitimacy as leader of Libya, and nothing less than his arrest and prosecution would pave the way for democratic reform and peace in that country, Mokgalapa said.
The ICC on Monday issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam Gaddafi and military intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi for crimes against humanity.
The court is seeking the three in connection with the killing, injuring, arrest and imprisonment of civilians during the first two weeks of the outbreak of fighting in Libya in February.
News of the warrant spread like wildfire among South Africa’s Libyan community.
While the ICC has said the three are linked to the killing and injuring of hundreds of civilians, Libyan doctors living in South Africa claim those affected are not hundreds, but thousands. “At least 15 000 people have been killed since the uprising began in February,” a surgeon at Durban’s King Edward VIII Hospital said.
“In Misrata, under siege by Gaddafi’s forces for over 100 days, more than 3 000 civilians were killed in bombings and shootings.
“In Benghazi nearly 2 000 were murdered. These figures do not include the thousands killed elsewhere.”
He asked for his name not to be used as he fears for the safety of his family living in Tripoli. “Until Gaddafi is removed, the violence will continue.”
A Durban-based anaesthetist said the warrant had come too late. “Our only hope now is that the South African government will support the ICC’s decision.” - Pretoria News