Investigators ‘gather documentary evidence to prosecute Gaddafi for war crimes’

(REUTERS)

War crimes investigators were said last night to have amassed thousands of documents which could be used in a case against the Libyan leader, Colonel Muammar Gaddafi. They reportedly include details of attempts to starve people living in Misrata, the port city that has been under siege since February.

In one document, according to The Observer, an order from Gaddafi to bombard Misrata stated the attack should go on until the "blue sea turned red". Prosecutors from the International Criminal Court said they want to see the files, stored in Misrata, to see if the orders breach the Geneva Convention. It is suggested that Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and intelligence chief Abdullah Senussi could be indicted for crimes against humanity once the fighting is over. Khalid Alwab told the paper: "From what we have here, the case is already proved. All the evidence is here. Signed and stamped." The documents largely come from government forces surrendering to rebels fighting out of Misrata.

Last night, Nato admitted that opposition forces had been mistakenly hit by an alliance air assault earlier in the week. "Nato can now confirm that the vehicles hit were part of an opposition patrol," a statement released yesterday said. No casualty figures were made available, but the alliance said it regretted "any possible loss of life or injuries caused by this unfortunate incident". Nato officials added that Gaddafi's use mosques and children's parks to hide his military operations had added to the confusion.