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African move on Bashir dismissed | African move on Bashir dismissed |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The African Union's (AU) decision not to help arrest Sudan's president will not affect the International Criminal Court's work, its prosecutor says. | The African Union's (AU) decision not to help arrest Sudan's president will not affect the International Criminal Court's work, its prosecutor says. |
Luis Moreno Ocampo told the BBC Omar al-Bashir was still a wanted man and that it was up to each African state to decide whether to arrest him. | Luis Moreno Ocampo told the BBC Omar al-Bashir was still a wanted man and that it was up to each African state to decide whether to arrest him. |
Mr Bashir was indicted over alleged atrocities in Darfur in March. | Mr Bashir was indicted over alleged atrocities in Darfur in March. |
But on Friday an AU meeting in Libya agreed a resolution saying they would not co-operate in his arrest. | But on Friday an AU meeting in Libya agreed a resolution saying they would not co-operate in his arrest. |
In a statement, the AU pointed out that its request to the UN Security Council to delay Mr Bashir's indictment had been ignored. | In a statement, the AU pointed out that its request to the UN Security Council to delay Mr Bashir's indictment had been ignored. |
Mr Ocampo told the BBC that the AU decision was no victory for Sudan or Mr Bashir. "No-one is saying he's innocent," he said. | Mr Ocampo told the BBC that the AU decision was no victory for Sudan or Mr Bashir. "No-one is saying he's innocent," he said. |
He said each of the 30 African states that signed up to the Rome treaty establishing the court would have to decide for themselves whether to arrest the Sudanese leader. | He said each of the 30 African states that signed up to the Rome treaty establishing the court would have to decide for themselves whether to arrest the Sudanese leader. |
And he added that only the Security Council could suspend or lift the indictment against Mr Bashir, not the ICC. | And he added that only the Security Council could suspend or lift the indictment against Mr Bashir, not the ICC. |
The court has indicted the Sudanese president on two counts of war crimes - intentionally directing attacks on civilians and pillage - as well as five counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and torture, all related to the conflict in the Darfur region. | The court has indicted the Sudanese president on two counts of war crimes - intentionally directing attacks on civilians and pillage - as well as five counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and torture, all related to the conflict in the Darfur region. |
He denies the allegations, saying the state has a responsibility to fight rebels. | He denies the allegations, saying the state has a responsibility to fight rebels. |
Botswana has confirmed it will not abide by the AU's decision to ignore the arrest warrant. | |
Foreign Minister Phandu Skelemani told the BBC the AU decision had been rushed through without a vote, and countries could not be expected to renege on treaties "because of a sulk". |
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