afrol News, 21 July - Sudan has appealed to African ministers who met today in Ethiopia to slam International Criminal Court's plan to prosecute president Omar Hassan al-Bashir over war crimes he allegedly committed or instigated in Darfur.

The meeting is said to be an important move in country's diplomatic campaign, could add to Arab League already condemnation of ICC, whose chief, Amr Moussa, is in capital Khartoum, for talks on plan to resolve crisis.

"We expect AU's solidarity and condemnation of indictment," Sudanese foreign ministry official Mutrif Siddig said in Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa, prior to meeting.

"We don't want a precedent to be created because Sudan is not a member of the ICC. We are committed to Darfur peace initiative within umbrella of AU," Sudan's deputy envoy to AU, Hawei Bonamalwal, also told media.

Some analysts believe crisis over court's demand could compromise brittle peace process in Africa's biggest country, but Khartoum has emphasised that it will pursue diplomacy rather than encourage any violent recoil.

ICC's chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, has asked for an arrest warrant for Mr Bashir's apprehension on suspicion of masterminding crimes against humanity in Sudan's western Darfur region.

Mr Moreno-Ocampo accuses Mr al-Bashir of prompting genocide that killed hundreds of thousands and forced millions others to flee their homes.

AU sources told media that meeting in Addis Ababa, requested by Sudan, was likely to drive United Nations Security council to seek suspension of warrant of arrest for 12 months, which can then be renewed.

Observers say AU's role is key because UN resolution that referred Darfur to international court in 2005 underscored need for cooperation with bloc. Current AU chair, Tanzania, has already urged court to withhold moves to arrest Mr al-Bashir.

Sudanese top officials have meanwhile been touring regional capitals to rally support behind president al-Bashir.

Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki noted after today's meeting that Mr al-Bashir should not be "subjected to legal recourse in courts that may not have an understanding of conflict".

Street protests condemning ICC have been staged almost daily in Sudan, but they have reportedly been insignificant, lacking heavy government backing evident at some past demonstrations. A "million man march" planned today was called off.

Sudan, whose economy is rapidly growing through an oil boom, has described UN moves to raise security, evacuate staff families and withdraw non-essential personnel as an overreaction.

Sudanese opposition parties are among those voicing concern at ICC's move. They fear a warrant could stop next year's election, planned as first democratic vote in 23 years.

Aid agencies working in world's largest humanitarian operation in Darfur fear longer-term security deterioration, with growing attacks increasingly frequent on aid workers and joint UN-AU peacekeeping mission in Darfur, and collapse of law and order rampant though-out country.

UN says that up to 300,000 people have died and more than 2.2 million have fled their homes since conflict erupted in February 2003. Sudan says only 10,000 have been killed.

Conflict began when African ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Arab-dominated Khartoum regime and state-backed Arab militias, fighting for resources and power in one of most remote and deprived places on earth.

By staff writer

© afrol News

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