France asks UN to refer Syrian war to ICC

France has asked the UN Security Council to refer the war in Syria to the International Criminal Court for investigation of possible crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The proposed resolution, circulated to all council members today and obtained by The Associated Press, condemns the "widespread violation" of human rights and international humanitarian law by Syrian authorities and pro-government militias as well as abuses and violations by "non-state armed groups" during the last three years.
It takes note of reports by an independent commission appointed by the UN Human Rights Council to investigate rights violations in Syria. In its latest report last September, the commission said at least eight massacres had been perpetrated in Syria by President Bashar Assad's regime and supporters, and one by rebels in the previous year and a half.

A confidential list of suspected criminals is being produced by the commission and kept under lock and key by UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Navi Pillay.
The draft notes statements by Pillay and UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon that crimes against humanity and war crimes are likely to have been committed during the Syrian conflict. It also notes Pillay's repeated calls to refer Syria to the International Criminal Court, the world's permanent war crimes tribunal.
The draft resolution would "refer the situation in Syria" since March 2011 to the ICC prosecutor, noting the violations by all parties.
Several diplomats said Russia, Syria's closest ally and a permanent council member, is likely to veto the resolution. The diplomats, speaking on condition of anonymity because the council has not yet discussed the draft, said discussions are expected this week and France is pressing for a vote next week.

Syria is not a state party to the Rome statute that established the International Criminal Court so the only way it can be referred to The Hague, Netherlands-based tribunal is by the Security Council. The council has previously referred conflicts in Darfur and Libya to the ICC.