THE United States has announced sweeping sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) that threaten to cripple its operations and spark fresh transatlantic tension.
Washington's unprecedented move was an "assault on the rule of law", said the ICC.
Based in the Dutch city of The Hague, the ICC tries individuals suspected of the world's worst offences — war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
Established in 2002 by the Rome Statute, it currently has 125 members. Major powers, such as the US, Russia, China and India, as well as Israel, are not members of the court.
