Tuareg chief sent to the ICC for crimes Timbuktu

Alleged al-Qaida suspect responsible for the destruction of historical monuments in 2012 rebel recovery.
A suspected leader of al-Qaeda was handed over to the International Criminal Court (ICC) to face charges of aiding the destruction of the city of Mali Timbuktu, in the first case before the court.
Faqi Al Ahmad Al Mahdi was arrested under a warrant issued by the ICC last week and handed over by the Niger authorities, the court said in a statement Saturday.
The details of his arrest were not immediately clear.
Faqi suspected “of war crimes allegedly committed in Timbuktu, Mali, between about June 30, 2012 and July 10, 2012, through intentionally directing attacks against buildings dedicated to religion and / or historical monuments, “the statement said.
Faqi arrived Saturday in The Hague, where the ICC is based, in what is the first case of its kind brought by the Court for the destruction of religious buildings and historical monuments.
It is also the first instance be taken by the ICC – the only permanent tribunal for war crimes in the world – agitation that shook the West African nation of Mali.
Faqi, a Tuareg leader Abu Tourab also known, is suspected of war crimes to deliberately destroy buildings desert heritage site listed by UNESCO in 2012.
Called the “city of 333 saints”, Timbuktu around 1000 km northeast of the capital Bamako in Mali, was attacked for months by the jihadists.