[JURIST] The International Criminal Court (ICC) [official website] will review allegations of rape and other violence [press release; ICC backgrounder] committed in the Central African Republic (CAR), ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo [official profile] said Tuesday. According to Moreno-Ocampo, reports detailing hundreds of rape victims "calling for justice" have been turned over to the Prosecutor's Office, which will now conduct its own investigation. Moreno-Ocampo said that "We believe that grave crimes falling within the jurisdiction of the Court were committed in the Central African Republic. We will conduct our own independent investigation, gather evidence, and prosecute the individuals who are most responsible."

The probe will focus on events that occurred between 2002 and 2003 during a violent conflict between rebel forces and the government, but will also keep watch on current events in the country. The ICC first began monitoring the nation in 2005 after the CAR government and Cour de Cassation requested that the ICC do so. AP has more.