This week the ICC has enjoyed relatively little media attention, but some important stories were picked up by media outlets. For instance, this week President Bashir of Sudan, wanted by the ICC on numerous charges, visited Chad to attend the swearing in ceremony of President Deby. Chad is a state party to the ICC, having ratified the Rome Statute in 2006. The visit received criticism from the European Union and other international parties, who urged Chad to arrest Bashir. In other news, the judges of Pre-Trial Chamber II reportedly reached a decision this week regarding the number of witnesses Kenya election violence suspects may employ during their confirmation hearing. The judges limited the number of witnesses to two for each suspect, saying the number should be limited because the hearings are meant to establish there is a case, not prove the suspects' innocence. Although ICC Prosecutor Ocampo will rely solely on documented evidence during the confirmations, reportedly the victims of violence are eager to participate in the proceedings to counter the case presented by the six suspects. Last week ICC President Judge Song visited Mozambique to raise awareness about the work of the ICC and to encourage the state to join the Court. In other news, it has been reported that there is a conflict between the government and civil society over the scope of the ICC's investigation in the Ivory Coast. The government wishes the ICC to only look at crimes committed in the last six months, but civil society wants the ICC to look further back into the country's history. The ICC has not made a statement regarding its view of the investigation's timeframe. Yesterday reportedly Russia applied to the ICC over the Georgia conflict. The ICC has yet to make a statement on the matter. Photo credit: The Sudan Tribune.
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