Iraq News

France ready to help ICC prosecute ISIL fighters in Syria

France is "ready to co-operate" with the International Criminal Court (ICC) to probe "Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant" (ISIL) fighters in Syria for war crimes, Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault said Monday (November 21st).

The ICC is the world's only permanent war crimes court. But moves so far to refer Syria to The Hague-based body have been unsuccessful, as Russia has blocked them with its veto in the UN Security Council. The UN go-ahead is needed as Syria is not a member state.

Ayrault told AFP that actions "can be launched if they concern (French) nationals who are engaged in the war in Syria alongside ISIL".

"We are ready to co-operate and give our backing if there is a track to follow," he said. "Even if the margin for manoeuvre is limited, it is a chance to recall that we do not accept impunity."

Russia said Wednesday it was formally withdrawing its signature to the tribunal's founding Rome Statute, describing its work as "one-sided and inefficient".

In May 2014, France presented a draft resolution calling for war crimes to be investigated in Syria, but the measure was defeated when Russia and China vetoed the request.

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