The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court has stepped down temporarily pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct.

The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, Karim Khan, has stepped down temporarily as an investigation by the United Nations into alleged sexual misconduct by him nears its end, his office said on Friday.

Prosecutor Karim Khan has stepped aside and taken an administrative leave amid an ongoing investigation into allegations of sexual misconduct. "This is not an extraordinary measure, nor is it a presumption of guilt.