afrol News, 17 July - African envoys are seeking back up from big powers to help Sudanese president Omar Hassan al-Bashir evade indictment by International Criminal Court for war crimes he allegedly committed as well as instigated in war torn Darfur.

Sudanese Ambassador Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed said some African diplomats were discussing with China and Russia ways to hinder Mr al-Bashir's prosecution for a while.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo filed 10 charges on Monday against Mr al-Bashir, related to a campaign of extermination the UN says has claimed 300,000 lives and driven 2.5 million people from their homes.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo, based at The Hague, Netherlands, said survivors were preyed upon by government-backed Janjaweed Arab militia and regular troops. It could take judges months to rule on whether to issue an arrest warrant.

Sudan, South Africa and China have expressed concern that indicting the Sudanese president could further damage peace process, diplomats said.

Some Western diplomats and United Nations officials also say they fear an arrest warrant against Mr Bashir could let loose retaliatory activities against peacekeeping mission (UNAMID) in Darfur.

South African ambassador to Sudan, Dumisani Kumalo, said search for justice should not compromise other priorities in Sudan.

In latest attack, a Nigerian company commander with UN-AU peace mission was killed by unknown gunmen in Forobaranga, West Darfur, while he was on patrol not far from UN-AU, officials said.

The Wednesday attack occurred as Security Council voted to condemn killing of seven Darfur peacekeepers a week ago, as a possible war crime.

According to reports, that process already is withering and the mission has no peace to keep.

"There is no peace agreement. Peace process has been stalled for last few months. There is an urgent need for renewed effort on peace process side," British ambassador John Sawers has said.

Last week, seven UN-AU peacekeepers were killed and at least another 19 wounded in Darfur, during an ambush by about 200 gunmen on horseback and in SUVs.

Council on Wednesday condemned the attack as "premeditated, deliberate and intended to inflict casualties," and said attacks on UN peacekeepers "can constitute war crimes."

Fighting erupted in Darfur in 2003 when ethnic African rebels took up arms against Arab-dominated central government, accusing it of discrimination.

Along with less-than-adequate cooperation from Sudanese government, the United States and other governments haven't provided peacekeeping force with needed attack and transport helicopters. The purpose of the force is more to protect civilians and ensure access for humanitarian workers than to keep any peace.

UN secretary-general Ban Ki-moon told council in a report that he is "deeply disappointed" by situation, but he still set ambitious goal of doubling number of peacekeeping troops to 80 percent of its authorised strength by year's end.

As of June there were 11,359 UN peacekeepers in Darfur, two-thirds of them soldiers, as part of peacekeeping mission, which is authorised to have 26,000 troops, police, civilians and other personnel, Mr Moon said.

With UN-AU peacekeeping mission's mandate set to expire at the end of this month, council is said to have debated on Wednesday, to extend Darfur mission for another year. Such an extension is expected to be granted two weeks from now.

Meanwhile, UNAMID said its troops are still conducting patrols on Sudan's western part, in spite of violence and instability, with humanitarian activities also reportedly continuing.

UNMID is helping to implement 2005 comprehensive peace agreement ending separate north-south civil conflict.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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