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Sudan president Bashir derides ICC warrant

By Bernard Hibbitts (editor) and University of Pittsburgh School of Law students.

[JURIST] Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on Thursday scoffed at the warrant for his arrest issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) earlier this week. Speaking to a crowd of thousands in Khartoum, Bashir said the warrant was an effort by Western countries to reassert colonial power over the country, and criticized the ICC for failing to take action in conflicts in Iraq and the Gaza Strip. Expanding on its earlier reaction to the warrant, the African Union  announced that it plans to petition  the UN to have the warrant for Bashir suspended, sharing with several African and other countries the fear that it could disrupt a peace deal in the country. Human rights groups, however, have reiterated their support for the warrant , calling it a step forward in efforts to hold rights violators in Sudan responsible for their actions. Also Thursday, several humanitarian aid organizations including Oxfam International and Doctors Without Borders  confirmed that they have been expelled from the country. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has called on Sudan to allow the agencies to remain in the country , voicing concerns that their removal could create a grave humanitarian crisis there.The warrant for Bashir, issued on Wednesday, charged him with seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, but did not include genocide charges. The controversial arrest warrant had been sought by ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, who in July filed preliminary charges against Bashir alleging genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes committed in the Darfur region in violation of Articles 6, 7, and 8 of the Rome Statute. The ICC announced last week that they would decide whether to issue an arrest warrant on Wednesday. The announcement came after the New York Times reported last month that the warrant had been issued, leading a court official quickly to issue a denial.

Full post as published by JURIST - The Paper Chase on March 05, 2009 (boomark / email).