The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir yesterday for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
But the warrant did not include genocide charges, which had also been requested by prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, court spokeswoman Laurence Blairon said.
“Today, pre-trial chamber one of the International Criminal Court ... issued a warrant for the president of Sudan for war crimes and crimes against humanity,” Blairon said.
She said the warrant listed seven counts — five of crimes against humanity and two of war crimes. They included the crimes of murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, rape, intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population and pillaging.
The decision against Bashir, the most senior figure pursued by the Hague-based court since it was set up in 2002, could spark more turmoil in Sudan and the region.
Bashir has dismissed the allegations made by the ICC as part of a Western conspiracy.
“They can eat it [the warrant],” he told a crowd of cheering supporters in Sudan on Tuesday.
UN officials say as many as 300,000 people have been killed in the Darfur conflict since 2003, while Khartoum says 10,000 have died. Another 2.7 million people are estimated to have been uprooted by the conflict.
“We have strong evidence against Mr Bashir,” Moreno-Ocampo said before yesterday’s announcement. “More than 30 different witnesses will present how he managed to control everything. We have strong evidence of his intention.”
Meanwhile, tensions mounted in Sudan yesterday, with security beefed up outside embassies in anticipation of large protests.
Embassies have asked their citizens to stock up on food, and to avoid visiting public places. Some UN staff were told to leave work early to avoid any potential demonstrations.
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