International Criminal Court: quick facts

The International Criminal Court is the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal, coming into force in 2002 and headquartered in The Hague, Netherlands. The basis of the court was formed under the Rome Statute, which was adopted in 1998. Unlike other war crime's tribunals set up by the UN for a limited period of time, the ICC is an independent body. However, the United Nations Security Council does have the power to defer from investigating a case for a period of 12 months.

Jurisdiction: A court of last resort, the ICC acts only when member countries are "unwilling or unable" to dispense justice themselves. It may prosecute individuals responsible for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes committed after July 2002. The UN Security Council may ask the court to open an investigation.

US position: Former President George W. Bush, citing fears Americans would be unfairly prosecuted for political reasons, initiated bilateral immunity deals with dozens of countries, barring them from handing US citizens to the court's jurisdiction. It is unclear how the US relationship with the court will change under President Barack Obama.

Cases: A warrant against Al Bashir would put him alongside the likes of former Yugoslav President Slobodan Milosevic and ex-Liberian leader Charles Taylor as heads of state indicted for war crimes while in office. Both of them were forced from power and ended up on trial at separate international tribunals in The Hague. However, Al Bashir would be the first head of state in office to be tried by the ICC. The court's prosecutor has also opened investigations in Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Sudan and Central African Republic.

Trial: The court started its first trial, of Congolese warlord Thomas Lubanga, in January on charges of recruiting and using child soldiers.

Budget: The court has a 2009 budget of just over $101 million ($127 million), paid by the countries in the ICC's governing body, the Assembly of States Parties.