Int. Criminal Court To Probe Uganda Rebel Actions

International Criminal Court To Probe Rebel Actions In Northern Uganda - UN

The Chief Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) today announced plans to open an investigation into the situation concerning Northern Uganda, where the country's Government says rebels are committing atrocities, a United Nations spokesperson reported today.

Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said his decision came after "thorough analysis of available information" in order to ensure compliance with the Court's Statute.

"The investigation will look into grave universal crimes," spokesperson Marie Okabe told reporters in New York.

The situation concerning the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) was first brought to the ICC in December 2003 by Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni.

The following February, Mr. Moreno Ocampo said he would investigate the killing earlier that month of more than 200 people in northern Uganda's Barlonya camp.

"These crimes are the most serious committed in the country since 1995, when 240 people were killed in Atiak, north of Lira," the Prosecutor said at the time, noting that the acts could fall under the jurisdiction of the ICC.

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