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WORLD NEWS Friday 4 March 2022
ICC prosecutor launches Ukraine war crimes investigation

THE HAGUE, Netherlands court have been commit-
(AP) — The International ted" in Ukraine, Khan's pre-
Criminal Court prosecutor decessor, Fatou Bensouda,
has launched an investi- said at the time.
gation that could target Those findings also will be
senior officials believed re- included in Khan's investi-
sponsible for war crimes, gation.
crimes against humanity or Putin and his military top
genocide amid a rising ci- brass could potentially
vilian death toll and wide- face charges for ordering
spread destruction of prop- attacks that breach the
erty during Russia's invasion laws of war, said Marieke
of Ukraine. de Hoon, assistant profes-
ICC Prosecutor Karim Khan sor of international criminal
announced the probe late law at the University of Am-
Wednesday night after sterdam.
dozens of the court's mem- "The ICC is created to cir-
ber states asked him to cumvent Putin's head of
take action. state immunity in foreign
"An investigation by the In- courts," De Hoon said. "The
ternational Criminal Court ICC can now continue its
into Russia's barbaric acts investigation, open cases
is urgently needed and it and issue arrest warrants."
is right that those respon- A view of the exterior view of the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, Wednes- But she also noted the ICC
sible are held to account," day, March 31, 2021. can only put a suspect on
British Foreign Secretary Liz Associated Press trial in The Hague if they are
Truss said. "The U.K. will work arrested. The court doesn't
closely with allies to ensure There also have been re- growing alarm among into crimes linked to the have a police force to de-
justice is done." ports of the use by Russian countries about the esca- violent suppression of pro- tain suspects and relies on
After informing the court's troops of cluster bombs, lating atrocities and human European protests in Kyiv in international cooperation
judges of his decision to with a preschool and a hos- rights crisis that has gripped 2013-2014 by a pro-Russia to enforce its arrest war-
open an investigation that pital both reportedly hit. Ukraine," said Balkees Jar- Ukrainian administration rants. Under ICC rules, sus-
covers all sides in the con- President Vladimir Putin's rah, interim international and allegations of crimes pects can't by tried in their
flict, Khan said: "Our work in "military machine is target- justice director at Human in the Crimean Peninsula, absence.
the collection of evidence ing civilians indiscriminately Rights Watch. "These gov- which Russia annexed in How armies are allowed
has now commenced." and tearing through towns ernments are making clear 2014, and eastern Ukraine, to act during military con-
Ukraine's State Emergency across Ukraine," Truss said. that serious crimes will not where Moscow has backed flicts is governed by what
Service has said that more Rights groups on Thursday be tolerated and that the rebels since 2014. It found is known as international
than 2,000 civilians have welcomed the nations' re- court has an essential role "a broad range of conduct humanitarian law, the aim
died since the Russian inva- quest for an investigation. to play in ensuring justice." constituting war crimes and of which is to protect civil-
sion, a claim that was im- "The request for an ICC The court already has con- crimes against humanity ians and rein in the use of
possible to verify. investigation reflects the ducted a preliminary probe within the jurisdiction of the force.q

U.N. atomic watchdog: Iran further raising nuclear stockpile

By EMILY SCHULTHEIS The 33.2-kilogram figure agency's monitoring equip-
VIENNA (AP) — The United brings Iran closer to having ment, the report states.
Nations' atomic watchdog enough weapons-grade Senior diplomats from Brit-
said Thursday that it be- uranium to produce a nu- ain, China, France, Ger-
lieves Iran has significantly clear weapon. many and Russia have
increased its stockpile of In a report to member been meeting with Iranian
highly enriched uranium in states about its work in Iran officials in Vienna since No-
breach of a 2015 accord seen by The Associated vember to discuss bringing
with world powers. Press, IAEA estimated that Tehran back into compli-
The International Atomic as of Feb. 19, Iran's stock- ance with the 2015 Joint
Energy Agency told mem- pile of all enriched uranium Comprehensive Plan of
ber nations in its confiden- was 3197.1 kilograms, an Action. The pact eased
tial quarterly report that increase of 707.4 kilograms. sanctions on Iran in return
Iran has an estimated 33.2 The Vienna-based agency for curbs on its nuclear pro-
kilograms (73.1 pounds) said it was unable to ver- gram.
of uranium enriched to up ify the exact size of Iran's The United States pulled out A worker rides a bicycle in front of the reactor building of the
Bushehr nuclear power plant, just outside the southern city of
to 60% fissile purity, an in- stockpile of enriched ura- of the accord under former Bushehr, Iran, Oct. 26, 2010.
crease of 15.5 kilograms nium due to limitations President Donald Trump Associated Press
since November. Tehran imposed on U.N. and reimposed sanctions
Such highly enriched ura- inspectors last year. IAEA's on Iran, prompting Tehran Grossi would travel to Teh- officials and whether there
nium can be easily refined monitoring and verification to resume its uranium en- ran for meetings with senior had been any progress,
to make atomic weapons, activities in Iran continue to richment. Iranian officials on Satur- Grossi said at a Wednes-
which is why world pow- be "seriously affected" by The IAEA announced ear- day. day press conference in Vi-
ers have sought to contain Iran's decision to stop let- lier Thursday that Director Asked to characterize the enna, "We are working very
Tehran's nuclear program. ting inspectors access the General Rafael Mariano cooperation with Iranian hard."q