The arrest warrant for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi issued Monday by the International Criminal Court (ICC) aroused both opposition and support around the world.

Libya's government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim (L) and Justice Minister Mohammed al-Gamudi attend a press conference in Tripoli, June 28. Libya has rejected the arrest warrants issued for its leader Muammar Gaddafi, his son Saif al-Islam, and the country's intelligence chief for alleged atrocities committed against political opponents.(Xinhua/AFP Photo)

The ICC prosecutors alleged they were involved in the killing of protesters when anti-government protests broke out in the North African country in February against Gaddafi's 41-year rule.

The Libyan officials rejected the court's authority even before the decision was read in The Hague, accusing the court of unfairly targeting Africans while ignoring what they called crimes committed by the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) in Afghanistan, Iraq "and in Libya now."

"The ICC has no legitimacy whatsoever. We will deal with it ... All of its activities are directed at the African leaders," government spokesman Moussa Ibrahim told reporters Sunday.

South African President Jacob Zuma was extremely disappointed and concerned about the warrant after its release, according to South African presidential spokesman Zizi Kodwa.

Kodwa said it was unfortunate that the ICC took such a decision while the African Union (AU), through its ad hoc High Level Committee on Libya, had done so much, adding the warrant undermined the committee's work.

On June 26, Zuma hosted the committee in Pretoria to discuss the implementation of the AU roadmap on Libya.

After that meeting, the AU leaders said Gaddafi had agreed to stay out of negotiations on ending Libya's four-month political crisis.

VietNamNet/Xinhuanet