ICC is 'keeping an eye on events in Guinea'

The International Criminal Court has issued a warning to Guinean security forces on the ground on Friday and has called for calm. The Deputy Prosecutor, Fatou Bensouda, released a statement saying the ICC is keeping 'a close eye on the situation.'

Reuters/Joe Penney

"I invite the Guinean authorities to investigate the criminal incidents that have already occurred and any possible future ones," said Bensouda.

"All reported act of violence will be closely scrutinised by the office in order to determine whether crimes falling under the court's jurisdiction are committed and should warrant an investigation," she added in the statement.

Seven people were killed in Guinea this past week after preliminary second-round election results were announced.

Bensouda headed the ICC investigation into the 150 killings and mass rapes that took place at an opposition political rally in Conakry, the capital, on 29 September 2009. Earlier this month, while in Conakry for the investigation, she vowed justice for those who committed crimes at that time.

The ICC's call for calm follows similar calls from the UN Security Council and the French government after violence in Conakry.

The UN Security Council condemned the violence in Guinea. It "urged all parties to follow the existing legal procedures, resolve their differences peacefully and respect the final decision of the Supreme Court."

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) urged those in the security field, political leaders and activists "to refrain from violence and inciting ethnic hatred."

"UNHCR also calls on the transitional government, which proclaimed a state of emergency, to scrupulously adhere to national norms regarding states of emergency including the respect of all rights and obligations," spokesman Rupert Colville said on Friday.

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French Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Christine Farges

Daniel Finnan

Final results from the presidential election are due to be confirmed by the Supreme Court by 2 December at the latest. Court officials said the results of the vote, which put Alpha Condé as winner, had been referred to the court. They say they will begin to examine the files and that they have been allowed eight days to do so by the electoral commission.

And France also warned its citizens against travelling to Guinea under the current circumstances. "We want French tourists and citizens to avoid travel to Guinea before the situation is more calm and more clear on the result of the elections and the state of the institutions," said France's Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Christine Farges.

"We are supporting the EU and all the African partners who are working on the ground in Guinea [...] We call on all Guineans to act with responsibility," she added.