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Africa Horn

AU not to cooperate with ICC over Bashir

2009-07-04

[Iran Press TV Latest] African Union members have refused to cooperate with the International Criminal Court over the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued a war crimes warrant against al-Bashir alleging war crimes and crimes against humanity and has called for his arrest. But AU members have decided not to cooperate with the international body and have assured Bashir that he can travel freely across Africa without fear of capture.

*snicker* How many legions does the ICC have?

The AU has also appealed once again to the United Nations to delay the case, delegates said Friday at the 13th AU Summit held in Sirte, about 600 km east of Tripoli, Libya. Two delegates from different member sates said the AU summit had agreed to a text reading: "The AU member states shall not cooperate... for the arrest and surrender of Sudan President Omar al-Bashir." The text was backed by Libyan leader and current AU chief Muammar Gaddafi, who has said the ICC represents a 'new world terrorism', and won support from many countries who felt the court was unfairly targeting Africans.

Thirty African states have signed the Rome Statutes creating the court, and apparently have treaty obligations to arrest al-Bashir if he travels on their territory. But the text adopted at the summit voices frustration felt by many African nations who say the UN Security Council ignored an early AU resolution calling for a one-year delay to the indictment. The UN Security Council can ask the court, via a resolution, to suspend investigations or prosecutions for 12 months, under Article 16 of the Rome Statute. The stay can be renewed.

Posted by:Fred

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