ICC deputy prosecutor tells U.N. Security Council atrocities in Darfur amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity

Deputy Prosecutor Shamim Khan of the International Criminal Court told the United Nations Security Council that evidence gathered by her office indicates war crimes and crimes against humanity have been committed in Darfur, and she urged member states to provide urgent cooperation to accelerate investigations.

Khan told the council that "Darfuris, as we speak, are being subjected to collective torture," and described arbitrary detention, executions and mass graves as occurring on a "massive scale." She said much of the criminality has been filmed "and celebrated by those committing them," and that satellite, audio and video evidence are being used to corroborate allegations and pursue individual criminal responsibility.

The prosecutor said the Office of the Prosecutor has focused investigative work in several locations, citing allegations from Al Fasha (described in the briefing as falling to the Rapid Support Forces) and ongoing work on attacks in Al Jeneina/Algenena. "It is the assessment of the office of the prosecutor that war crimes and crimes against humanity have been…