[JURIST] International Criminal Court (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo [official websites] on Tuesday revealed that his office has uncovered evidence that embattled Libyan leader Mummar Gaddafi [BBC profile; JURIST news archive] planned to attack civilians to forestall regime-toppling revolution. Moreno-Ocampo indicated that the plans were made in response to the conflicts in Tunisia and Egypt and included shooting civilians [NYT report]. Moreno-Ocampo wants to interview the recently defected foreign minister of Libya, Moussa Koussa, to gather more inside information on the Gaddafi government [AP report]. The prosecutor hinted at possible immunity for Koussa, who fled to London last month, but stopped short of a guarantee [Reuters report]. Gaddafi remains defiant even as several key figures have defected and NATO-led air strikes have grounded his planes.

Last Month, Moreno-Ocampo told the press that he is 100 percent certain his office will bring charges [JURIST report] against Gaddafi. Also last month, the ICC launched a probe into allegations of crimes against humanity [JURIST report] by the Libyan government. Moreno-Ocampo specifically identified Gaddafi, his sons and his political allies as targets of the investigation and warned Libyan officials that complicity in such abuses would result in prosecution. Additionally, the UN appointed a team of special prosecutors [JURIST report] to investigate allegations that Gaddafi ordered forces to torture and abduct opponents. The UN General Assembly has voted to suspend Libya [JURIST report] from the UN Human Rights Council (UNHRC) [official website] in response to the violent suppression of peaceful protesters by forces loyal to Gaddafi.