Almasri case before ICC preliminary chamber

(ANSA) - ROME, FEB 10 - The case of Italy's alleged failure to execute an International Criminal Court warrant for Libyan General Osama Almasri on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in a Tripoli migrant detention centre is before the ICC's preliminary chamber but no Italian official is up before the court itself as yet, spokesman Fadi El Abdallah said Monday.
    He said Rome could file "observations on the failure to cooperate".
    Almasri, wanted for allegedly torturing, raping and murdering migrants as young as five, was arrested by Italian security police after attending a Juventus soccer match in Turin on January 19 only to be released and flown back to Libya to a hero's welcome two days later.
    Justice Minister Carlo Nordio has blamed errors in the ICC warrants, which he described as a "mess", while Interior Minister Matteo Piantedosi has said Rome was forced to expel the general as a danger to Italy.
    The centre-left opposition has been baying for Premier Giorgia Meloni to address the House, as the minister did in her absence, saying that it must have been her who made the final decision to free the alleged war criminal.
    They have also said national security demanded his release as he has been allegedly essential to Italian efforts, agreed with Libya under a 2017 deal, to fund Libyan coast guards to keep migrants from leaving for Italian shores.
    Some opposition MPs have also pointed to Italy's key oil interests in the north African country.
    Meloni, who has been ignoring the pressure to address parliament, has said repeatedly she is not open to blackmail.
    Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani has said the ICC is "not the Word of God" and should itself be investigated over its handling of the case.
    Meloni and others have said it is suspicious that the Hague court allegedly waited until Almasri was in Italy, having roamed the UK, Belgium, France and Germany for 12 days, to issue the warrant.
    The warrant was issued a day before the general entered Italy to attend the game between Juventus and AC Milan, the latter of which he is a fan.
    The ICC has demanded an explanation as to why Almasri was freed and flown home, and several refugees have reportedly filed, or are about to file, complaints against Meloni and ministers in the case.
    taly on Friday failed to join France, Germany, the UK, Spain amid 79 countries signing a declaration condemning Donald Trump's sanctions on ICC staff who have been investigating Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on alleged war crimes committed in Gaza, along with his ex defence minister Yoav Gallant and Hamas leader who was meanwhile killed by Israel after leading the October 7, 2023 attacks on southern Israel.
    Australia, Hungary, and the Czech Republic were among the other non-signatories to the ICC members' statement against the American president's sanctions.
    The ICC has 125 members. (ANSA).