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America

US revokes ICC prosecutor's visa over Afghan probe

Washington, April 5 

The US has revoked the visa of the International Criminal Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor in response to her intention to probe potential war crimes by American soldiers in Afghanistan, the media reported.

The Guardian cited a statement from the office of Fatou Bensouda, a Gambian national, saying she would continue to pursue her duties for the court, in The Hague, "without fear or favour".

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo in March announced restrictions on any ICC staff who investigated the US or allied personnel. Washington has refused to recognise the ICC since its inception in 2002, weakening the court's authority and providing an excuse for other countries, most notably in Africa, to also pull their support. 

In 2017, Burundi became the first nation to leave the ICC.

Pompeo's move came as he delivered another snub to multilateralism by refusing to attend a meeting of G7 Foreign Ministers in France.

He earlier said that the ICC was "attacking America's rule of law" while announcing a policy of imposing visa restrictions on "individuals directly responsible for any ICC investigation of US personnel".

"If you're responsible for the proposed ICC investigation of US personnel in connection with the situation in Afghanistan you should not assume that you still have, or will get, a visa or that you will be permitted to enter the US."

Bensouda's office said she had an "independent and impartial mandate" under the Rome statute governing the ICC. "The prosecutor and her office will continue to undertake that statutory duty with utmost commitment and professionalism, without fear or favour," it added.

The ICC said the US decision was not expected to affect Bensouda's trips to the UN in New York, where she gives regular briefings to the Security Council. The UN office is seen as covered by a form of diplomatic immunity, the report said.

Bensouda asked ICC judges in November 2017 for authorisation to open an investigation into alleged war crimes in Afghanistan by the Taliban, Afghan government forces and international forces, including US troops.

The investigation is also expected to examine the Central Intelligence Activity in detention centres in Afghanistan. The court has not yet decided whether to launch a full-blown investigation that would cover events after 2002, according to the Guardian.