TRIPOLI – The International Criminal Court (ICC) has rejected an appeal by Abdullah Senussi to have proceedings against him in Libya suspended. While the case against Gaddafi's spy chief, who faces charges of murder, conspiracy to murder and human rights crimes, is set to continue in Tripoli, the ICC is still considering an appeal to have his case brought before them at the Hague. The decision ends the request to the ICC by Senussi's lawyers in October asking it to order a halt to Tripoli court proceedings while the the international court considered its main case against him. They claimed there was a danger he could be convicted and executed in Libya before the ICC ruled on the appeal. The ICC explained yesterday, however, that the appeal for suspension of the trial in Libya would not be necessary. They explained that the domestic case would not obstruct the international court or interfere with the situation which existed prior to the case being brought in Libya. The court also ruled that evidence of the conditions of Senussi's treatment while in jail in Tripoli was not relevant. Libya is still contesting an outstanding ICC demand that Saif Al-Islam Qaddafi be handed over, although in a brief television interview in November Saif stated his desire to be tried in Zintan not the Hague. The ICC has said it considers the cases of Senussi and Saif Al-Islam to be separate. – Libya Herald
