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ICC prosecutor seeks charges against Sudan president

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-07-14 21:55

BRUSSELS  -- The International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor sought on Monday the arrest of Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, charging him of war crimes, including genocide, in Darfur.

ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo said there were reasonable grounds to believe that al-Bashir bears criminal responsibility in relation to 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

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A pre-trial chamber would now review the evidence provided by the prosecutor to decide whether to pursue the case and how to bring al-Bashir to court, which may take at least six weeks.

The prosecutor said it had requested an arrest warrant.

It was the first time that the Hague-based ICC was asked to charge a sitting head of state, a move decried by Khartoum as undermining peace efforts in the region.

The Sudanese government reiterated on Sunday that it does not recognize the ICC and would refuse any decision or memorandum delivered by the court.

In an interview published Monday by the French newspaper Le Figaro, United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon said he was "very worried" about the possible move by the ICC, adding it would have very serious consequences for peacekeeping operations.

Some Sudanese officials also warned the ICC move against its top officials could undermine attempt to end the conflict in Darfur.

Thousands of Sudanese, chanting slogans against the United States and the ICC, marched in Khartoum Sunday to show their anger at the move.

The ICC prosecutor has so far issued arrest warrants for two Sudanese suspects for war crimes in Darfur after the UN Security Council decided in 2005 to refer the Darfur situation to the ICC, a decision opposed by Sudan, which insisted on its own prosecution.