Countries must cooperate with ICC, EU says of Almasri case

(ANSA) - ROME, JAN 31 - The European Council in 2023 urged all member States to fully cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC), including by promptly executing arrest warrants, a spokesperson of the EU executive said on Friday, speaking about the case of alleged Libyan war criminal Osama Almasri.
    Almasri, a Libyan police official, was released on a technicality by Italian authorities and flown back home from Italy after being detained on an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for the alleged murder of migrants and alleged rape of persons as young as five.
    "The European Council in 2023 called on all member States to guarantee full cooperation to the Court, including by promptly executing arrest warrants", stressed the spokesperson, replying to a question on the Almasri case.
    "It is not up to the European Commission to ensure the respect of the International Criminal Court's arrest warrants, but we support the Court, we respect its impartiality and independence", also noted the spokesperson.
    The Libyan judicial police commander, who is wanted by the ICC for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed since 2015, was arrested in Italy on January 19 but released two days later on a technicality.
    His release sparked a furore and prompted the ICC to ask Rome for clarification. (ANSA).