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War Crimes Court Seeks Arrest of Sudan's Bashir

By VOA News
04 March 2009

The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's Darfur region.

Sudanese officials immediately rejected the move, saying that they do not recognize the court's authority. Thousands of demonstrators have gathered in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, to protest the ICC's decision.

The Hague-based tribunal issued the warrant Wednesday, after months of deliberation by a three-judge panel.

The judges say there is evidence Mr. Bashir coordinated a campaign of attacks against civilians in Darfur, where his government has been fighting rebels since 2003.

The warrant lists five counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, torture, extermination and forcible transfer.

It lists two counts of war crimes, including pillaging and directing attacks against civilians.

There are no counts of genocide in the warrant. Court officials Wednesday said prosecutors had failed to establish a clear intent to eliminate three ethnic groups perceived to support the rebels.

The U.S. embassy in Khartoum has warned an indictment against Mr. Bashir could spark violent protests and attacks against Americans and Europeans in Sudan.

Mr. Bashir becomes the first sitting head of state to be ordered arrested by the court since its formation in 2002.

Mr. Bashir defiantly dismissed the charges during a rally in Khartoum Tuesday, saying the court can take any decision it makes and "eat it."

The U.N. Security Council, which has the power to delay action against Mr. Bashir, says it is deeply divided over the matter and has no immediate plans to meet following the court's decision.

The African Union, the Arab League and China have all said an indictment could destabilize the region and harm efforts to bring peace to Darfur.

The United Nations says the fighting and related violence in Darfur have killed more than 200,000 people and displaced more than 2.5 million others. Sudan puts the death toll much lower, at 10,000.