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Sudan Swats Away Genocide Charge

Official says country will work to block international court's indictment of president

By Sam Biddle,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 15, 2008 3:27 PM CDT
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(Newser) – Sudan aims to obstruct an international tribunal's efforts to hold its leader responsible for genocide, the BBC reports. The International Criminal Court's charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity against president Omar al-Bashir are designed to engender tension between tribal groups in Darfur, a senior official said today, denying that the ICC has jurisdiction within Sudan.

Sudanese officials further claimed they were working to rally support among international allies to block the ICC. The conflict leaves the African Union in a precarious position, the BBC adds, as its members must decide how to respond to the charges while simultaneously facing the prospect of having to enforce them should the time come.

Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir leaves a ceremony yesterday in the capital, Khartoum.
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir leaves a ceremony yesterday in the capital, Khartoum.   (AP Photo)
A Sudanese woman demonstrates in front of the republican palace in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, July 15, 2008 to support Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had genocide charges filed against him at the International Criminal Court on Monday.
A Sudanese woman demonstrates in front of the republican palace in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday, July 15, 2008 to support Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had genocide charges filed against him at the...   (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)
Sudanese demonstrate in front of the republican palace in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday,July 15 2008 to support Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had genocide charges filed against him at the International Criminal Court on Monday.
Sudanese demonstrate in front of the republican palace in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday,July 15 2008 to support Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had genocide charges filed against him at the International...   (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)
A Sudanese woman demonstrates in support Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir after genocide charges were filed against him at the International Criminal Court on Monday.
A Sudanese woman demonstrates in support Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir after genocide charges were filed against him at the International Criminal Court on Monday.   (AP Photo)
Sudanese demonstrate in front of the republican palace in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday,J uly 15, 2008 to support Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had genocide charges filed against him at the International Criminal Court. Arabic slogan read as Ocampo, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, is a criminal playing...
Sudanese demonstrate in front of the republican palace in Khartoum, Sudan, Tuesday,J uly 15, 2008 to support Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, who had genocide charges filed against him at the International...   (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)
Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, Sudan's vice president, rejected the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and said genocide charges against president Omar al-Bashir were politically motivated.
Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, Sudan's vice president, rejected the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court and said genocide charges against president Omar al-Bashir were politically motivated.   (AP Photo)
In this photo released by Albany Associates on Monday, July 14, 2008, a man walks past a destroyed homestead in the village of Kafod, North Darfur, Sudan Wednesday, July 2, 2008. Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo asked a three-judge panel at the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for President...
In this photo released by Albany Associates on Monday, July 14, 2008, a man walks past a destroyed homestead in the village of Kafod, North Darfur, Sudan Wednesday, July 2, 2008. Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo...   (AP Photo/Albany Associates, Stuart Price)
In this Monday, April 23, 2007 file photo, Sudanese Darfur survivor Ibrahim holds human skulls at the site of a mass grave where he says the remains of 25 of his friends and fellow villagers lie, on the outskirts of the West Darfur town of Mukjar, Sudan. Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo...
In this Monday, April 23, 2007 file photo, Sudanese Darfur survivor Ibrahim holds human skulls at the site of a mass grave where he says the remains of 25 of his friends and fellow villagers lie, on the...   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)
In this Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 file photo, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir gestures during a speech in Khartoum, Sudan. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court filed genocide charges Monday against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, accusing him of masterminding attempts to wipe out African tribes in Darfur with a campaign...
In this Wednesday, Jan 12, 2005 file photo, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir gestures during a speech in Khartoum, Sudan. The prosecutor of the International Criminal Court filed genocide charges Monday...   (AP Photo/Abd Raouf, File)
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COMMENTS
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Genocide allegations present complicated geopolitical situation
New York Sun

UN staff pulled from Sudan in wake of indictment
Yahoo

US takes cautious stance on allegations
Associated Press

Ex-prosecutor hopes charges motivate Security Council
New York Times

 
genocide • Sudan • war crimes • Crisis in Darfur • African Union • Arab League • Omar al Bashir • International Criminal Court

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