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Sudan President Defies Darfur Warrant, Ejects Aid Groups

Aid groups ejected from Darfur as Bashir denounces 'colonialists'

By Jason Farago,  Newser Staff

Posted Mar 5, 2009 6:32 AM CST
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(Newser) – A day after the International Criminal Court ordered his arrest for atrocities in Darfur, Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir vowed to defy the court and called its decision a colonial conspiracy. The New York Times reports that Sudan's government also ordered 10 international humanitarian organizations, including Doctors Without Borders, to leave the country or curb their work. "It happened right after the announcement," said one aid official. "The connection was clear."

"Sudan is raising its voice. It rejects the hegemony, the colonialists," Bashir cried at a huge rally in the capital of Khartoum. The indicted president also denounced the United States and Israel and even started dancing at the rally, waving his walking stick in the air as music blared. This is the first arrest warrant issued by the ICC, which accuses Bashir of complicity in the Darfur genocide that has left 300,000 dead and 2.5 million displaced.

Omar al-Bashir denounced the ICC, the UN and aid agencies as part of a new colonialism that aims to destabilize his country.
Omar al-Bashir denounced the ICC, the UN and aid agencies as part of a new "colonialism" that aims to destabilize his country.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Omar al-Bashir denounced the ICC, the UN and aid agencies as part of a new colonialism that aims to destabilize his country.
Omar al-Bashir denounced the ICC, the UN and aid agencies as part of a new "colonialism" that aims to destabilize his country.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Sudan's president, wanted by an international court on war crimes charges, danced and waved a cane defiantly in front of thousands of supporters Thursday.
Sudan's president, wanted by an international court on war crimes charges, danced and waved a cane defiantly in front of thousands of supporters Thursday.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Security was hiked around many embassies in Sudan after the ICC issued an arrest warrant Wednesday, March 4, 2009 for Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Security was hiked around many embassies in Sudan after the ICC issued an arrest warrant Wednesday, March 4, 2009 for Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.   (AP Photo/Albany Associates, Stuart Price, File)
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant Wednesday, March 4, 2009 for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant Wednesday, March 4, 2009 for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser, File)
Thousands of supporters, one holding a photo of the president, cheer during a speech delivered by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir at the entrance of the presidential palace in Khartoum.
Thousands of supporters, one holding a photo of the president, cheer during a speech delivered by Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir at the entrance of the presidential palace in Khartoum.   (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
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COMMENTS
Showing 1 of 1 comment
Zebraone
Mar 8, 2009 10:42 PM CDT
Now you know why it's called the dark continent!

Background on the wanted president
Time

Does Bashir's indictment matter?
Guardian (UK)

Aid groups in Sudan grow anxious
BBC

 
Darfur • genocide • Sudan • The Hague • Omar al Bashir • International Criminal Court • arrest warrant

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