Gaddafi 'ordered troops to rape'

Muammar Gaddafi has reportedly told his troops to rape female opponents
12 April 2012

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has reportedly told his troops to rape female opponents - with evidence existing of the regime acquiring Viagra-type drugs to assist them.

The allegations come from International Criminal Court (ICC) investigators who say they have evidence linking the leader to the policy and may bring charges on the issue.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo requested arrest warrants on May 16 against Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam and the country's spy chief on charges of crimes against humanity committed in their bid to crush the country's rebellion.

The allegation of troops raping female opponents is not new, but evidence linking Gaddafi to the policy is.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo told the Reuters news agency that the question previously was whether he could be associated with the rapes "or is it something that happened in the barracks?".

He said that evidence had emerged of Gaddafi authorising the crimes "and this is new".

He went on: "It never was the pattern he used to control the population. The rape is a new aspect of the repression. Apparently, he decided to punish using rapes."

Mr Moreno-Ocampo's investigative team had found "some elements" confirming the purchase of "Viagra type of medicaments," Reuters reports.

He said there is evidence of Libya acquiring "containers" of such drugs "to enhance the possibility to rape women."

There are thought to be several hundred victims in some areas, the investigator added.

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