ICJ rules it has jurisdiction in Myanmar genocide claim

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) is delivering an order today in response to The Gambia's seeking provisional measures to stop genocide against the Rohingyas in Myanmar's Rakhine.

ICJ Judge Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf began delivering the order and has ruled it has preliminary jurisdiction in Myanmar genocide claim, reports Reuters.

"The court concludes that prima facie it has jurisdiction under the Genocide Convention," the judge said.

Abdulqawi was still reading Thursday's ruling and has not said whether the court will actually order any emergency measures.

Gambia's case in full against Myanmar could take years and would require a more complete ruling on jurisdiction.

The momentous pronouncement today follows a three-day hearing at the international court of justice in The Hague last month at which the Nobel peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi defended her country against accusations of systematic human rights abuses and war crimes.

The full verdict may take more than an hour to deliver and the hearing is being broadcast live on the ICJ website.