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'Fugitive' Sudan Prez Defies World Court

Al-Bashir's Saudi trip seen as effort to undermine support for international justice

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Apr 2, 2009 4:29 AM CDT

(Newser) – Sudan's president thumbed his nose at the International Criminal Court with a high-profile pilgrimage to Mecca yesterday, reports the Times of London. A ruling last month requires the court's 108 members to arrest Omar al-Bashir for crimes against humanity in Darfur if he enters their nations. Many see his trips to non-members like Saudi Arabia as an effort to undercut the court's authority and turn Arab and African nations against it.

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Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir drives past supporters as he arrives back home after attending the Arab summit in Doha yesterday. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashirdrives past supporters as he arrives back home after attending the Arab summit in Doha, in Khartoum, Sudan, yesterday. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir reacts as he arrives back home after attending the Arab summit in Karthoum yesterday. (AP Photo/Abd Raouf)

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It was expected that an arrest warrant for a sitting head of state would create tremendous controversy, and not only in the Arab world, but wherever leaders have fear of justice. - Bill Pace, chairman of the International Coalition for the ICC

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'Fugitive' Sudan Prez Defies World Court