Darfur war crimes suspect no-show at press conference in Khartoum

By Wasil Ali

June 3, 2007 (KHARTOUM) — A key suspect indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) failed to appear at a press conference sponsored by the Sudanese government last Saturday.

Ahmed Haroun, state minister for humanitarian affairs, was scheduled to speak at the government owned Sudanese Media Center (SMC) to celebrate the national volunteer’s day. Haroun was invited in his capacity as the government minister who oversees the activities of aid groups operating in Sudan.

The judges of the ICC issued their first arrest warrants for suspects accused of war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region in early May. The warrants were issued for Ahmed Haroun, state minister for humanitarian affairs, and militia commander Ali Mohamed Ali Abdelrahman, also know as Ali Kushayb. Sudan has so far rejected handing over the two suspects.

There was no word from the ministry as to why Haroun was not present at the press conference. Last Tuesday the US Treasury imposed financial sanctions on Haroun accusing him of playing a direct role in “the terrible atrocities of Darfur”.

The other speakers at the press conference included Kosti Manibe the minister of humanitarian affairs at the full ministerial level and Abdul Rahman Abudom, a senior adviser at the ministry. Both speakers hailed the improvement in humanitarian work in Darfur saying it at its best in more than two years ago.

At least 200,000 people have died in the western region and more than two million more fled their homes since ethnic minority rebels rose up three years ago drawing a scorched earth response from the military and allied militias.

(ST)