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Bashir cancels visit to Istanbul | Bashir cancels visit to Istanbul |
(20 minutes later) | |
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, indicted by the International Criminal Court, has pulled out of an Islamic summit in Istanbul, officials say. | Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, indicted by the International Criminal Court, has pulled out of an Islamic summit in Istanbul, officials say. |
The Turkish government had previously welcomed the attendance of President Bashir at the meeting and said that he would not be arrested. | The Turkish government had previously welcomed the attendance of President Bashir at the meeting and said that he would not be arrested. |
But the EU, which Turkey hopes to join, wanted the invitation to be withdrawn. | But the EU, which Turkey hopes to join, wanted the invitation to be withdrawn. |
Sudan's state-run Suna news agency said "new developments" had required Mr Bashir's presence in Sudan. | Sudan's state-run Suna news agency said "new developments" had required Mr Bashir's presence in Sudan. |
Mr Bashir was in Egypt on Sunday, taking part in a China-Africa summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. | Mr Bashir was in Egypt on Sunday, taking part in a China-Africa summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. |
He was due in Istanbul on Monday for the summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). | He was due in Istanbul on Monday for the summit of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC). |
ANALYSIS Jonathan Head, Istanbul No-one is saying who blinked, but it was probably Turkey. | ANALYSIS Jonathan Head, Istanbul No-one is saying who blinked, but it was probably Turkey. |
On Friday president Abdullah Gul brushed aside a private plea from the European Union saying it was not the EU's place to interfere. | On Friday president Abdullah Gul brushed aside a private plea from the European Union saying it was not the EU's place to interfere. |
And over the weekend Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sounded an equally defiant note saying he did not believe the Sudanese leader was involved in war crimes in Darfur. | And over the weekend Prime minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan sounded an equally defiant note saying he did not believe the Sudanese leader was involved in war crimes in Darfur. |
Western governments have been careful not to challenge Turkey, as its foreign policy has appeared to shift sharply Eastwards. | Western governments have been careful not to challenge Turkey, as its foreign policy has appeared to shift sharply Eastwards. |
But it is likely that quiet pressure from the US and the EU helped to change Turkey's mind over President Bashir. | But it is likely that quiet pressure from the US and the EU helped to change Turkey's mind over President Bashir. |
But Suna said he was returning to Khartoum to "find a solution" to a dispute between his ruling National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. | But Suna said he was returning to Khartoum to "find a solution" to a dispute between his ruling National Congress Party and the Sudan People's Liberation Movement. |
Mr Bashir has visited several African countries since the ICC issued the warrant for his arrest in March, saying he was responsible for atrocities in Darfur. | |
He has denied the accusations. | |
Turkey has pointed out it is not a signatory to the treaty which set up the Hague-based ICC. | Turkey has pointed out it is not a signatory to the treaty which set up the Hague-based ICC. |
Officials also say Mr Bashir was invited by the OIC and not Ankara. | Officials also say Mr Bashir was invited by the OIC and not Ankara. |
But Turkey, which is seeking EU membership, had come under pressure from Brussels to drop Mr Bashir from the guest list. | But Turkey, which is seeking EU membership, had come under pressure from Brussels to drop Mr Bashir from the guest list. |
"The Sudanese see and understand well the difficulties," a unnamed senior Turkish diplomat told AFP news agency. | "The Sudanese see and understand well the difficulties," a unnamed senior Turkish diplomat told AFP news agency. |
Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan questioned the charges against Mr Bashir and said that "no Muslim could perpetrate a genocide", according to Turkey's Anatolia news agency. | Earlier, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan questioned the charges against Mr Bashir and said that "no Muslim could perpetrate a genocide", according to Turkey's Anatolia news agency. |
"If there was such a thing (a genocide), we could talk about it face to face with President Bashir," he was quoted as saying. | "If there was such a thing (a genocide), we could talk about it face to face with President Bashir," he was quoted as saying. |
The ICC arrest warrant accuses Mr Bashir of running a campaign of genocide that killed 35,000 people outright, at least another 100,000 through a "slow death" and of forcing 2.5 million to flee their homes in Darfur. | The ICC arrest warrant accuses Mr Bashir of running a campaign of genocide that killed 35,000 people outright, at least another 100,000 through a "slow death" and of forcing 2.5 million to flee their homes in Darfur. |