The prosecutor for the International Criminal Court (ICC) will present evidence next week of alleged war crimes committed in the Darfur region of Sudan, the court announced on Thursday.
After evidence is presented, judges will decide whether to open an inquiry against the suspects with the aim of eventually issuing international arrest warrants.
Some analysts have said there is little doubt arrest warrants will be issued.
Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has investigated accusations of persecution, torture, rape and murder since June 2006. He has focused on events alleged to have occurred between 2003 and 2004, considered the most violent period involving the crisis in Darfur.
His team has visited 17 countries and conducted more than a hundred interviews.
However, he has been criticised by NGOs and the United Nations high commissioner for not sending investigators to Darfur itself, citing security concerns.
The UN says about 200 000 people have died from fighting in Darfur and 2,5-million others have been displaced since 2003.
The Arab Janjaweed militia is accused of the worst violence in Darfur, including genocidal attacks targeting civilians of black African origin.
The ICC is authorised to judge war crimes and crimes against humanity if national jurisdictions lack the will or ability to do so. — Sapa-AFP