ICC just for Africans and Putin, 'elected leaders' told court prosecutor

The International Criminal Court (ICC) was established for Africans and "thugs" like Russian President Vladimir Putin, the court's prosecutor says he was told by senior elected leaders.

Speaking to CNN a day after announcing he was seeking arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Defence Minister Yoav Gallant and three leaders of the Palestinian group Hamas, ICC prosecutor Karim Khan defended the court's remit for targeting war criminals without discrimination.

“Of course, I have heard some elected leaders speak to me and be very blunt: This court is built for Africa and for thugs like Putin, was what a senior leader told me," Khan said.

"We don't view it like that. This court is the legacy of Nuremberg. This court is a certain indictment of humanity. This court should be the triumph of law over power and brute force; grab what you can, take what you want, do what you will, and we are not going to be dissuaded by threats,” he told Christiane Amanpour.

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