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Tense Sudan awaits court decision Tense Sudan awaits court decision
(about 1 hour later)
The International Criminal Court is to announce whether it will indict Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir over alleged war crimes in Darfur.The International Criminal Court is to announce whether it will indict Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir over alleged war crimes in Darfur.
If the tribunal goes ahead, it would be the first such warrant on a serving head of state.If the tribunal goes ahead, it would be the first such warrant on a serving head of state.
There are fears of unrest and a backlash against a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force.There are fears of unrest and a backlash against a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force.
Mr Bashir, who denies the charges, said on Tuesday the tribunal at The Hague could "eat" the arrest warrant.
The BBC's Peter Martell in Khartoum says the capital is very tense as people await the ICC's decision.The BBC's Peter Martell in Khartoum says the capital is very tense as people await the ICC's decision.
He says there is heavy security and large pro-Bashir demonstrations are expected, although he adds there is also a strong feeling in the city - albeit seldom openly expressed in public - in support of an indictment. It will not be worth the ink it is written on President Omar al-Bashir class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7502973.stm">Profile: Sudan's Omar al-Bashir class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=6147&edition=1">Should Omar Bashir be arrested?
The UN estimates that about 300,000 people have died and some 2.7 million people been displaced in six years of conflict. He says there is heavy security and large pro-Bashir demonstrations are expected.
President Bashir rejects the allegations from The Hague and Sudanese officials say they will ignore the court's decision. But he adds there is also a strong feeling in the city - albeit seldom openly expressed - in support of an indictment.
'Eat' the warrant Meanwhile Sudanese security forces are reportedly out in force in the north-western Darfur town of El Fasher.
Opening a hydro-electric dam in northern Sudan on Tuesday, he poured scorn on the possible indictment. Effigy
class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7921311.stm">Confessions of a Sudan deserter class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm">Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict Sudanese army jets have been flying over the town and the UN-AU force is on a heightened state of alert.
Mr Bashir danced for cheering supporters and said the court could "eat" the warrant, adding that it would "not be worth the ink it is written on". class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7921311.stm">Confessions of a Sudanese deserter class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm">Q&A: Sudan's Darfur conflict class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7894950.stm">Mixed hopes for Sudan peace
Thousands of people attended the dam opening ceremony, where they burned an effigy of ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo. The UN estimates about 300,000 people have died and some 2.7 million been displaced in six years of conflict.
The Argentine prosecutor requested the indictment last July for President Bashir on 10 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity. Opening a hydro-electric dam in northern Sudan on Tuesday, President Bashir poured scorn on the possible indictment.
He said the warrant would "not be worth the ink it is written on" and danced for thousands of cheering supporters who burned an effigy of the ICC chief prosecutor.
Luis Moreno Ocampo requested the indictment last July for President Bashir on 10 counts of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.
He told journalists at The Hague on Tuesday he had strong evidence and more than 30 witnesses prepared to testify against the Sudanese president.He told journalists at The Hague on Tuesday he had strong evidence and more than 30 witnesses prepared to testify against the Sudanese president.
Mr Bashir is accused of "masterminding and implementing" a counterinsurgency campaign designed to destroy the Fur, Marsalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups, which were deemed supportive of a rebel uprising in Darfur in February 2003. Alex de Waal, a Sudan expert at Harvard University in the US, told the BBC's Network Africa programme the pre-trial chamber of the ICC was expected to issue an arrest warrant for President Bashir.
BBC East Africa correspondent Karen Allen says there have been intense diplomatic efforts in past few weeks to try to delay the issuing of an arrest warrant. He said the only real doubt is whether it will be for genocide or if the tribunal will stick to the less controversial charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity.
African Union and Arab League states have warned any indictment could plunge the country into deeper crisis - just as a new round of peace talks begin - and are calling for a year's delay. 'Unnerving'
Millions of people have been displaced in six years of conflict in DarfurThe five permanent UN Security Council members, who have veto power, are said to be divided on the issue. But an indictment warrant would be "pretty toothless", he added, as the ICC does not have a police force and it would be delivered to Sudan's government, which is unlikely to execute it.
Millions of people have been displaced in six years of conflict in Darfur
Salva Kiir, Sudan's vice-president and leader of the south of the country, has issued a statement describing the possible indictment as "unnerving".
He said all Sudanese were hurt by the accusations against President Bashir, and urged southern Sudanese to refrain from demonstrations that could heighten tensions.
He called for diplomatic and political efforts to defuse the crisis.
African Union and Arab League states are calling for a year's delay to any indictment, warning it could plunge Sudan into deeper crisis - just as a new round of peace talks begin.
The five permanent UN Security Council members, who have veto power, are said to be divided on the issue.
America, France and Britain are supporting the call to bring President Bashir to book immediately for his alleged crimes.America, France and Britain are supporting the call to bring President Bashir to book immediately for his alleged crimes.
But China, which has strong economic ties to Sudan, and Russia would likely support a delay, according to diplomats.But China, which has strong economic ties to Sudan, and Russia would likely support a delay, according to diplomats.
Meanwhile, there are concerns about a military build-up along the Sudan-Chad border.Meanwhile, there are concerns about a military build-up along the Sudan-Chad border.
The two countries have accused each other of giving shelter to rival rebel groups, and there are concerns that the actions of the ICC could have violent consequences.The two countries have accused each other of giving shelter to rival rebel groups, and there are concerns that the actions of the ICC could have violent consequences.
The war crimes court has already issued two arrest warrants - in 2007 - for Sudanese Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmed Haroun and the Janjaweed militia leader Ali Abdul Rahman. Sudan has refused to hand them over.The war crimes court has already issued two arrest warrants - in 2007 - for Sudanese Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmed Haroun and the Janjaweed militia leader Ali Abdul Rahman. Sudan has refused to hand them over.
The ICC - the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal which started work in 2002 - is also pursuing indictments for three Darfur rebel commanders accused of killing a dozen African Union peacekeepers.The ICC - the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal which started work in 2002 - is also pursuing indictments for three Darfur rebel commanders accused of killing a dozen African Union peacekeepers.