(AP) MALABO, Equatorial Guinea — The African Union has called on its member states disregard the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court against Col. Muammar Qaddafi, a move that could weaken the ability of the world court to hold the Libyan leader accountable for crimes committed against his people.
The decision passed late Friday states that the warrant against Qaddafi “seriously complicates” efforts by the African Union to find a political solution to the crisis in Libya.
AU chairman Jean Ping told reporters that the ICC is “discriminatory” and only goes after crimes committed in Africa while ignoring those committed by Western powers including in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
“With this in mind, we recommend that the member states do not cooperate with the execution of this arrest warrant,” said the motion which was shown to The Associated Press and whose passage was confirmed by Daniel Adugna, a spokesman in the AU commissioner’s office.
By issuing an arrest warrant for Col. Qaddafi (and his son) we sort of ensure that he keeps on fighting, as he has ‘no way out’. Would it not have been wiser to facilitate his departure thereby trying for a quicker end to the war?