Sudanese President holds telephone conversation with Libyan leader

July 19, 2008 (TRIPOLI) — The Sudanese President Omer Hassan al-Bashir today held a telephone conversation with the Libyan leader Muammar al-Gadhafi on the charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes filed against him by the ICC prosecutor.

Al-Bashir informed Gadhafi about the real reasons behind the International Criminal Court’s indictment against him, reported Jana the official news agency.

Al-Bashir reaffirmed the opposition of the Sudanese people to this ruling which contradicts the African Union resolutions, the agency added.

Following a rebel raid against the Sudanese government in Khartoum last May, pro-government press published reports about the Libyan support to the Justice and Equality Movement. Khartoum and Tripoli denied the reports but latent tension dominated the bilateral relations.

Also this phone call comes at the time where the Vice-President Ali Osman Taha and Presidential Adviser Mustafa Osman Ismail travelled to Tripoli for talks on the ICC issue, SUNA reported yesterday.

President al-Bashir reiterated his deep appreciation for the stances of the Libyan leader to bring about peace and stability in Darfur.

He appealed to Gadhafi “to continue in his familiar stances in support of the Sudanese people until the achievement of a lasting peace in Darfur.”

(ST)