Chad to leave ICC after talks with US official

The Central African country of Chad is withdrawing from the International Criminal Court. The move comes during a period of heightened pressure against the ICC from officials in Washington.

Chad's Foreign Ministry made the announcement on Monday. A statement accuses the ICC, based in The Hague, of focusing its activities on Africa. Chad said it has notified the United Nations Secretary-General of its intention to withdraw. The ministry also said that Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Sabre Fadoul held telephone talks on Thursday with a senior official of the US State Department, who expressed concern about the ICC's functions and urged him to reconsider Chad's membership.