WorldMOSCOW, AFP -Russia said Wednesday it is formally withdrawing its signature from the founding statute of the International Criminal Court, saying the tribunal has failed to live up to the hopes of the international community. Russia in 2000 signed the Rome Statute setting up the ICC, the world's first permanent war crimes court, but never ratified the treaty. “We have withdrawn the signature, so all obligations associated with the signature are lifted,” said foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova. Western leaders have accused Moscow of war crimes in Syria, where it has been conducting air strikes to aid the Bashar al-Assad government and bombing the city of Aleppo as well as attacking rebels. The ICC opened its annual meeting on Wednesday with several African nations formally withdrawing from the court.

Source: Sunday Times November 16, 2016 14:15 UTC