On Thursday, the ICC approved a full probe into Myanmar's 2017 bloody military crackdown against the minority Muslim group. Myanmar has repeatedly defended the crackdown as necessary to stamp out militants and has long refused to recognize the authority of the ICC -- a position it reiterated Friday. "The investigation over Myanmar by the ICC is not in accordance with international law," said government spokesman Zaw Htay at a press conference Friday. Myanmar accused of genocideThe ICC decision came after West African nation The Gambia on Monday launched a separate case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the UN's top court, also based in The Hague. Myanmar, which has signed the Genocide Convention, would respond "in accordance with international legal means," said Zaw Htay.

Source: Dhaka Tribune November 15, 2019 17:26 UTC