New York, Aug. 19 (Petra) -- UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed deep concern Wednesday over sanctions imposed against International Criminal Court (ICC) President Judge Tomoko Akane of Japan and Senior Counsel in the Office of the Prosecutor Abdoulaye Seye of Senegal.

"While the United Nations and the ICC are separate institutions with distinct and separate mandates, we have said repeatedly that the UN considers the court to be a key pillar of international criminal justice, and the secretary-general respects its work deeply," UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said.

Separately, the UN Human Rights Office urged the immediate lifting of the "unacceptable new sanctions" levied by the United States against the ICC officials.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk renewed his appeal to all member states to defend "the institutions they created to protect human rights and the rule of law" and to safeguard court officials targeted by "such acts of reprisal." //Petra// AF