Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi could end up in the dock in The Hague within months, says chief prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, Luis Moreno Ocampo.

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Obligation
He told a news conference on Tuesday that although Libya is not a State Party to the ICC, it is a member of the United Nations and so has an obligation to cooperate with the court. ICC judges issued arrest warrants on Monday for Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and Libyan intelligence chief Abdullah al-Senussi for alleged crimes against humanity, including murder and persecution since the start of the civil uprising in the country in mid-February.

NATO cover
But Tripoli hit back and rejected the warrants, calling the ruling a "cover for NATO which is still trying to assassinate Gaddafi." Ocampo started an investigation into the situation in Libya after a unanimous referral by the UN Security Council to the ICC on 26 February.

Arrest plan
Although the court has no police force of its own to carry out arrests, Ocampo says it is "just a matter of time" until Gaddafi is arrested, either by the Libyan authorities or by the National Transitional Council, which is working on a plan to implement the arrest warrants.
Mohammed al-Allagi, responsible for justice and head of the Council, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, are expected to present the plan to the ICC in The Hague on Wednesday.

New future for Libya
Ocampo said there would be "a different future for Libya" if members of Gaddafi's inner circle help to make the arrests and make efforts to prevent the continuing cover-up of crimes committed by the security forces, including rapes. If not, more arrest warrnts would be issued, Ocampo warned. "Civilians and dissidents have been targetted in their homes and it is time for arrest," said Ocampo.

Urgent need
International forces do not have a mandate to arrest Gaddafi and his two aides and the court has not yet made any request for international assistance in implementing the arrest warrants. But Ocampo said there is "an urgent need for negotiations" with states on arresting Gaddafi if he travels abroad. He said he expects other states to oppose Gaddafi's continuation to hold power. "Justice will be done in Libya," Ocampo added.