This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7930829.stm
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Defiant Sudan president in Darfur | |
(about 10 hours later) | |
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has arrived in Darfur on his first visit there since an international arrest warrant was issued for him. | |
Mr Bashir has been accused of committing war crimes in Darfur. | Mr Bashir has been accused of committing war crimes in Darfur. |
Correspondents described his trip to the region as a calculated show of defiance. | |
He earlier told a rally in the capital, Khartoum, that if anyone wanted to fight him, they should come to Sudan instead of issuing arrest warrants. | |
He described as "thieves" the 13 aid agencies whose expulsion he announced earlier in the week. | He described as "thieves" the 13 aid agencies whose expulsion he announced earlier in the week. |
He accused them of taking "99% of the budget for humanitarian work themselves, and giving the people of Darfur 1%." | He accused them of taking "99% of the budget for humanitarian work themselves, and giving the people of Darfur 1%." |
The United Nations says the expulsion puts more than a million lives at risk. | The United Nations says the expulsion puts more than a million lives at risk. |
They have to come to our land to fight us themselves President Bashir At Saturday's rally, Mr Bashir danced in front of supporters from south Sudan, wearing a traditional feathered head-dress and colourful beads, AFP news agency reported. | They have to come to our land to fight us themselves President Bashir At Saturday's rally, Mr Bashir danced in front of supporters from south Sudan, wearing a traditional feathered head-dress and colourful beads, AFP news agency reported. |
"If someone wants to fight us, then they should not come with resolutions from the United Nations Security Council or the ICC," he said. | "If someone wants to fight us, then they should not come with resolutions from the United Nations Security Council or the ICC," he said. |
"They have to come to our land to fight us themselves." | "They have to come to our land to fight us themselves." |
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Mr Bashir on 4 March, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. | The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Mr Bashir on 4 March, accusing him of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. |
It is the first such warrant served against a serving head of state. | It is the first such warrant served against a serving head of state. |
But Mr Bashir has questioned the right of the ICC to try him, saying that if the court was genuinely impartial, it would also have jurisdiction over US citizens. | But Mr Bashir has questioned the right of the ICC to try him, saying that if the court was genuinely impartial, it would also have jurisdiction over US citizens. |
"Is this a court of justice? Are they [the US] members of it? If it is a court of justice, then why don't they join it?" he said. | "Is this a court of justice? Are they [the US] members of it? If it is a court of justice, then why don't they join it?" he said. |
Aid concerns | Aid concerns |
The UN Security Council, at its first meeting since the arrest warrant was issued, failed to agree on a statement asking Sudan to reverse the decision to expel the aid agencies. | The UN Security Council, at its first meeting since the arrest warrant was issued, failed to agree on a statement asking Sudan to reverse the decision to expel the aid agencies. |
Khartoum's UN ambassador denied the expulsions were politically-motivated, levelling accusations at the agencies. | Khartoum's UN ambassador denied the expulsions were politically-motivated, levelling accusations at the agencies. |
"We have a full dossier of information against those organisations," Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed said. | "We have a full dossier of information against those organisations," Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed said. |
"They are messing up everything as far as stability and security of Darfur is concerned. They are abusing the hospitality of the Sudanese people," AFP reported him as saying. | "They are messing up everything as far as stability and security of Darfur is concerned. They are abusing the hospitality of the Sudanese people," AFP reported him as saying. |
The key powers at the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, the US and Britain - met to discuss a statement which called on Sudan to reverse the expulsions. | The key powers at the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, the US and Britain - met to discuss a statement which called on Sudan to reverse the expulsions. |
But diplomats say China, Sudan's key ally and trading partner, objected. | But diplomats say China, Sudan's key ally and trading partner, objected. |
A delegation from the African Union and the Arab League is due to ask the Security Council to suspend the war crimes case against Sudan's president. | A delegation from the African Union and the Arab League is due to ask the Security Council to suspend the war crimes case against Sudan's president. |