Muammar Gaddafi accused of ordering mass rape

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi ordered mass rape and gave sex drugs to his troops to encourage them to attack women, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has said.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo said witnesses confirmed the Libyan government was buying a Viagra-type drug for its soldiers, Sky News reported.

The the chief prosecutor has already requested arrest warrants against Gaddafi and his son Saif al-Islam on charges of crimes against humanity.

Judges are considering this request. The prosecutor said fresh charges of mass rape may now be brought against the Libyan leader.

Moreno-Ocampo said there was information that Gaddafi had authorised the rapes.

"It never was the pattern he used to control the population. The rape is a new aspect of the repression. Apparently, he decided to punish using rapes," he said.

The prosecutor, however, said it was difficult to know how widespread such rapes were.

There was no immediate comment from Gaddafi's government.