Friday, January 2, 2009

IRAN

Iran asks world court to charge Israeli leaders with war crimes

Tehran, Dec 30 : Iran Tuesday called on the International Criminal Court (ICC) to bring to justice Israeli leaders for war crimes as Israeli airstrikes on Gaza Strip entered the fourth day, claiming about 400 lives, IRNA news agency reported.

"Iran is asking the International Criminal Court to bring to justice Israeli leaders for the war crimes they perpetrated in Gaza for four days running," Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad told reporters Tuesday following a cabinet meeting.
Demanding an immediate judicial action against the Israeli leaders, Ahmadinejad said the ICC must send arrest warrants to the Israeli leaders by the Interpol.
Those involved by any means in such brutality "should be designated as war criminal and murderer", he said, and added: "Israel has committed war crimes in Gaza which will lead to definite annihilation of the regime".
He expressed shock and grief at the killings of innocent civilians in the Gaza Strip as well as on the blockade of food and medicine supplies to the region during this period of crisis.
"Iran would follow up a fair solution to the ongoing human crisis in the region," Ahmadinejad said and added that the international community should step in to pressurise Israel to stop the aggression.
The Iranian leader also expressed solidarity with the Palestinians and said the Islamic country's policy was always based on political and spiritual support for the Palestinian nation.
Meanwhile, Israel rejected international call for a truce with Hamas Islamists in the Gaza Strip and continued its airstrikes Tuesday for the fourth day running.
Israeli ground forces massed on the border of the coastal enclave for a possible invasion while Israeli warplanes pressed on with attacks on Hamas targets, killing 12 Palestinians, including two sisters aged 10 and 12.
Medical officials put Palestinian casualties since Israel launched its attacks Saturday at 360 dead with more than 800 wounded.

--- IANS
(This news from IRNA, Iran 30 Disember 2008)

No comments: