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| Africa Horn |
| With a jig President al-Bashir plays peacemaker in Darfur |
| 2008-07-24 |
| President al-Bashir of Sudan, who was charged last week with masterminding a campaign of rape and genocide in Darfur, flew into the war-ravaged region yesterday, claiming the role of peacemaker and revelling in a hero's welcome from his supporters. Waving his cane in the air, Mr al-Bashir climbed on to a rickety desk before thousands of cheering men and wailing women who had gathered in the town of El Fasher, North Darfur, to hear him speak. First they had to watch him dance. The President's face broke into a wide smile and he jiggled from side to side as a pop song praising his virtues boomed from speakers all around the dusty bowl. "We are for peace and the President/ Bashir is our leader," the jangling chorus went. Around him Zaghawa tribesmen on camels raised their whips in approval. Mr al-Bashir faces ten charges brought by the International Criminal Court (ICC) relating to an alleged campaign of extermination against three Darfur tribes. His two-day tour of the region was being promoted as a peace mission, however, and he told his audience that the ICC had no right to investigate him. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 So the Times Online says he's a jig? Hmmm. |
| Posted by: bigjim-ky 2008-07-24 11:35 |