Lawmakers pave way for ICC withdrawal

Venezuela's national assembly on Thursday unanimously voted to repeal a law which ratified the Rome Statute, paving the way for the country to withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC), which is investigating human rights abuses in the country.

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The president of the ruling party-dominated assembly, Jorge Rodriguez, a close ally of President Nicolas Maduro, said the law would have immediate effect. Mr Maduro is expected to sign the repeal so the country can formally notify the ICC it intends to withdraw.

The law will demonstrate to the world “the uselessness and the servitude” of the ICC, Mr Rodriguez said during the assembly session, accusing the court of acting in the interests of “North American imperialism”.