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African Union urges ICC to drop cases against leaders African Union urges ICC to drop cases against leaders
(about 7 hours later)
The African Union has urged the International Criminal Court (ICC) to defer cases against sitting leaders until they leave office. The African Union summit in Ethiopia has agreed a resolution stating no African head of state should appear before an international court.
The current presidents of Kenya and Sudan both face ICC trials, and African leaders have long complained that the court unfairly targets them. It demanded a deferral of The Hague trial of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, due to start in November.
The AU meeting in Ethiopia had discussed withdrawing from the ICC, but the idea failed to gain support. With both Kenyan and Sudanese presidents facing ICC cases, African leaders have long complained that the court unfairly targets them.
The AU had discussed withdrawing from the ICC, but failed to get support.
Senior figures including Kofi Annan have criticised plans to quit the ICC.Senior figures including Kofi Annan have criticised plans to quit the ICC.
Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told journalists: "Sitting heads of state and government should not be prosecuted while in office. ICC deferral
"We have resolved to speak with one voice to make sure that our concerns are heard loud and clear." The AU leaders, meeting in Addis Ababa, agreed to back immunity for any sitting African head of state.
The AU summit in Addis Ababa is expected to formally adopt the request later. They also asked Kenya to write to the UN Security Council seeking a deferral in the International Criminal Court (ICC) cases against Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto.
The Ethiopian foreign minister said the AU would ask for the trials of Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Sudan's Omar al-Bashir to be deferred. Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Dessalegn said the summit was not a crusade against the ICC but a call for the court to address Africa's concerns seriously.
He also said the AU would ask for a deferral of the trial of Mr Kenyatta's deputy, William Ruto. He said the ICC's cases against the Sudanese and Kenyan presidents could hamper peace and reconciliation efforts in their countries.
"The unfair treatment that we have been subjected to by the ICC is completely unacceptable," he said.
Both Kenyan leaders deny charges of organising violence after the 2007 election.Both Kenyan leaders deny charges of organising violence after the 2007 election.
The ICC issued a warrant in 2009 for Mr Bashir over alleged war crimes in the Darfur region, but he has not yet been arrested. The ICC issued a warrant in 2009 for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir over alleged war crimes in the Darfur region, but he has not yet been arrested.
The ICC relies on the authorities of national governments to hand over suspects, but Mr Bashir has avoided arrest despite travelling to countries that have signed up to the ICC statute.The ICC relies on the authorities of national governments to hand over suspects, but Mr Bashir has avoided arrest despite travelling to countries that have signed up to the ICC statute.
Mr Tedros, who is the current chairman of the AU's Executive Council, said the ICC was "condescending" towards the continent. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, who is the current chairman of the AU's Executive Council, said the ICC was "condescending" towards the continent.
"The court has transformed itself into a political instrument targeting Africa and Africans. This unfair and unjust treatment is totally unacceptable," he said."The court has transformed itself into a political instrument targeting Africa and Africans. This unfair and unjust treatment is totally unacceptable," he said.
He said that the ICC had failed to respond to the African Union's previous complaints and said the issue should be referred to the UN Security Council.He said that the ICC had failed to respond to the African Union's previous complaints and said the issue should be referred to the UN Security Council.
Thirty-four of the AU's 54 members have signed up to the ICC.Thirty-four of the AU's 54 members have signed up to the ICC.
Kenya's parliament has already passed a motion for the country to withdraw.Kenya's parliament has already passed a motion for the country to withdraw.
Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said that withdrawing from the court would be a "badge of shame".Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has said that withdrawing from the court would be a "badge of shame".
Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu has also voiced his support for the ICC.Nobel Peace laureate Archbishop Desmond Tutu has also voiced his support for the ICC.
"Those leaders seeking to skirt the court are effectively looking for a license to kill, maim and oppress their own people without consequence," he wrote in an article carried by several newspapers."Those leaders seeking to skirt the court are effectively looking for a license to kill, maim and oppress their own people without consequence," he wrote in an article carried by several newspapers.
"They simply vilify the institution as racist and unjust, as Hermann Goering and his fellow Nazi defendants vilified the Nuremberg tribunals following World War II.""They simply vilify the institution as racist and unjust, as Hermann Goering and his fellow Nazi defendants vilified the Nuremberg tribunals following World War II."
All eight of the cases currently open at the ICC are in Africa but it is also investigating possible cases elsewhere.All eight of the cases currently open at the ICC are in Africa but it is also investigating possible cases elsewhere.