ICC Wants to Press On with Lubanga Case
Prosecutors are urging the ICC to confirm the war crimes charges against Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga (read more about the case here and here). If the judges agree it is likely Lubanga will be the first person tried by the ICC. Lubanga's attorney claims that evidence is being withheld from him and that this is a political case. For some reason I do not buy that Lubanga is innocent of the charges, there is just too much riding on this first case for the ICC. I cannot fathom the Court setting itself up for failure right off the bat, it would play into the hands of its detractors. For example, the US has relaxed its stance on the ICC a bit, but the Nethercutt Amendment still punishes those that have signed the ICC treaty but not bilateral immunity agreements with the US (see a list of countries which have signed BIAs as of August). Reuters has more on the Lubanga case if you are interested.