Thousands Rally in Sudan Against ICC War Crimes Charges
By VOA News
13 July 2008
Thousands of people have rallied in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to protest reports that the International Criminal Court may indict the country's president for war crimes.
Protesters brought traffic to a standstill as they marched through the capital Sunday shouting "Down, Down, USA" and other slogans.
The state-sponsored demonstration came as President Omar al-Bashir held an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss the potential prosecution.
The ICC is expected on Monday to indict Mr. al-Bashir and other top Sudanese officials for war crimes committed in the Darfur region over the last five years.
Sudan has said an ICC case could undermine peace efforts in the war-torn region. Sudanese officials have requested an emergency meeting of the Arab League, however no date has been set.
Sudan's U.N. Ambassador, Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem, called the court's reported plan for indictments "criminal."
A Sudanese government spokesman, Rabie Atti, says Khartoum will continue its policy of not cooperating with the ICC, no matter who is named as a suspect.
The United Nations has tightened security for its staff in Sudan, fearing a violent backlash if the ICC indicts Mr. Bashir.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP, AP and Reuters.
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