The International Criminal Court-wanted Libyan eastern commander, Mahmoud Al-Werfalli, has been arrested and is being investigated by the military prosecutor on the charges named by the ICC since August 02 as per the order of Khalifa Haftar, the spokesman of Dignity Operation forces in east Libya, Ahmed Al-Mismari announced Thursday evening.
"We carefully observe the warrant issued by the international Criminal Court against Major. Mahmoud Mustafa Al-Werfalli accusing him of war crimes based on photos and videos posted on social media showing him assassinating terrorist group members." A statement delivered by the spokesman explained.
Al-Masmari also said that the decision to hold the notorious killer in custody and place him under investigation came to respect international conventions, international Humanitarian Law and as an adherence to the teachings of Islamic Sharia.
However, it is blindingly obvious that Haftar and his so-called general command have been for so long ignoring the footage and videos that showed Al-Werfalli executing captives and prisoners for about 12 times and they only took action after the ICC issued the warrant of arrest demanding Al-Werfalli be surrendered.
The statement of the Haftar-led self-styled Libyan National Army (LNA) continued by saying that the general command disowns such action (as those Al-Werfalli is accused of) and whoever commits them, adding that those action only represent the "executors" who will be subject to law and deterrent penalties, according to the statement.
"ICC should rest assured that investigation procedures ensuring justice are ongoing under Libyan Military Law and Al-Werfalli has been suspended and detained since Haftar's order (No. 31/1957) issued on August 02. We are ready to cooperate with ICC by sharing the trial proceedings." The so-called LNA spokesman concluded.
On August 15, the ICC issued an arrest warrant of the notorious senior commander of Al-Saiqa Force of Dignity Operation, Mahmoud Al-Werfalli, over war crimes he committed in and around Benghazi, citing murdering of 33 persons in seven incidents.
Meanwhile, Amnesty International seconded the move of the ICC, and its North Africa Research Director, Heba Morayef, said that the ICC warrant sends a clear message that those who commit or order horrendous crimes are not above the law and will not go unpunished.
Human Rights Watch also backed up the arrest warrant of the ICC of the eastern forces' infamous serial killer, Al-Werfalli, saying he must be surrendered to the international justice body.
