The judge also issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi's son Saif al-Islam, 39, and the head of Libyan intelligence, Abdullah al-Senussi, 62, for murder and persecution since the uprising started.
War crimes court judges today issued arrest warrants for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and two of his closest allies for crimes against humanity committed against opponents of his regime.
"The chamber hereby issues a warrant of arrest against Muammar Gaddafi," Judge Sanji Mmasenono Monageng said as she read a decision by the bench of the Hague-based International Criminal Court.
"There are reasonable grounds to believe that Muammar Gaddafi, in coordination with his inner circle conceived and orchestrated a plan to deter and quell the civilian population demonstrating against the regime and those perceived to be dissidents," she added.
The judges also issued arrest warrants for Gaddafi's son Seif al-Islam, 39, and which Judge Monageng described as the Libyan leader's "de-facto prime minister" and head of Libyan intelligence Abdullah al-Senussi, 62, for murder and persecution since mid-February when the uprising started.
The court's decision came on the 100th day of NATO's operations in Libya, with airstrikes having eased the siege of key rebel cities.
However, Gaddafi is still in power and fears remain of a full-fledged civil war.
"Muammar Gaddafi retains absolute, undisputed control over the Libyan apparatus of power including the security forces," said Judge Monageng today.
ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo had asked for warrants for Gaddafi, Al-Islam, and Senussi for murder and persecution committed since 15 February.
Judge Monageng said warrants for Gaddafi and Al-Islam were for crimes against humanity committed "over the Libyan territory" and particularly in Benghazi, Misrata and Tripoli from 15 February until at least the end of that month.
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