Sudan’s Salva Kiir heads crisis committee to deal with the ICC
July 16, 2008 (KHARTOUM) – President Omer al-Bashir appointed today a high level committee, headed by his first deputy Salva Kiir Mayadrit to develop a road map against the accusations of genocide by the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court.
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo accused Bashir on Monday of masterminding a genocidal campaign against three ethnic groups in Darfur and requested an arrest warrant on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The crisis committee has to undertake diplomatic and legal actions to counter Ocampo’s charges against al Bashir.
According to the presidential decree, the panel has to coordinate its efforts with the African Union, the Arab League and Movement of Non-Aligned Countries in this regard.
In addition, the committee has to study the legal aspects of charges levelled by the ICC Prosecutor against the Sudanese president and to find a compromise with the international community to avoid negative effects on the signed peace accords.
The nine member committee, which consists of peoples from the different parts of the country including Darfur, held immediately a meeting today following its formation to discuss a diplomatic plan of action and to tackle the legal aspect of the charges.
The committee is expected to meet African Union officials and Arab League Secretary General Amr Musa, who intends to travel to Khartoum on Sunday, the day after an extraordinary meeting of Arab foreign ministers in Cairo.
The Sudanese parliament rejected today the ICC Prosecutor accusations against al-Bashir and urged the government swiftly find a solution for the five year crisis in Darfur.
Arab foreign ministers are to hold emergency talks in Cairo on Saturday to discuss the situation.
“The situation is very serious and very dangerous,” Arab League Secretary-General Amr Musa told reporters today.
“At the same time, we are not convinced that the steps taken (by) the criminal court were well considered,” he said.
(ST)