WAR CRIMES:LONDON – Amnesty International said yesterday it had uncovered evidence that forces loyal to Col Muammar Gadafy had killed several detainees at two camps in Tripoli.
It said eyewitness testimony from escaped prisoners described how loyalist troops used grenades and gunfire on scores of detainees at one camp this week, while guards at the other shot dead five people in solitary confinement.
“Loyalist forces in Libya must immediately stop such killings of captives, and both sides must commit to ensuring no harm comes to prisoners in their custody,” Amnesty said.
“Even as Col Gadafy is cornered, with an International Criminal Court warrant active for his arrest on charges of crimes against humanity, his troops continue their flagrant disregard for human life and international humanitarian law.” Amnesty noted it is a war crime for any party to a conflict to kill or torture prisoners.
It said the first incident took place on Tuesday at a military camp in Khilit al-Ferjan in southwestern Tripoli when some 160 detainees began to flee after guards told them the gates were unlocked. “As the detainees barged through the hangar gates, two other guards opened fire and threw five hand grenades at the group.”
It was unclear how many survived, it added, but at least 23 detainees managed to escape, including four who received medical treatment at a Tripoli hospital.
The second incident took place 5km (three miles) away at Qasr Ben Ghashir military camp on Wednesday when loyalist guards shot dead five prisoners. Former detainees later told Amnesty they had heard guards opening five of the cells before gunshots were fired shortly afterwards.
Both camps were reportedly used by the Khamis Katiba brigade, headed by Khamis Gadafy, a son of the fallen leader, said Amnesty. – (Reuters)