News
ICC to charge Sudan's Bashir over Darfur
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir (C) leaves after a closed-door session at the 12th African Union Summit in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa February 4, 2009. Photo/ REUTERS
Posted Thursday, February 12 2009 at 09:58
In Summary
- UN officials say at least 2.5 million Sudanese were left homeless and put the death toll as high as 300,000.
- Khartoum has said it would continue cooperating with UN peacekeepers in Sudan even if Bashir is charged.
The secretary-general met Bashir on the sidelines of an African Union summit in Addis Ababa last week.
UN officials said blue helmet peacekeepers in Darfur had no mandate to act on ICC arrest warrants in Sudan but would go about their business of protecting civilians there.
The Save Darfur Coalition of over 180 organisations and activist groups issued a statement saying it was time for the world to shun Bashir.
"A regime led by an indicted war criminal cannot possibly be treated as a full member of the community of nations," it said.
"The international community must press Sudanese authorities to comply with their obligations to cooperate with the ICC, including executing all outstanding warrants."
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