Egypt’s Mubarak reaffirms his support to Sudan’s Bashir vs ICC
July 27, 2008 (CAIRO) — President Hosni Mubarak reaffirmed today the support of the Egyptian government to the Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir after his indictment by the ICC prosecutor of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
Following the meeting, Taha told reporters he had handed over a message from Sudanese President Omer al-Bashir to Mubarak dealing with the charges filed by the ICC Prosecutor Luis Ocampo against him. He added that these “alleged accusations are baseless and refuted by the by the facts on the ground”
“A Fact-finding committee sent by the UN Security Council to Sudan in 2004 and all the delegations that visited the region, including the Arab League fact-finding and a committee set up by the national government did not refer to a case of genocide as stated in the allegations of the ICC Prosecutor,” Taha said.
He also pointed the need to give priority to the settlement of the conflict, and then to “punish those who caused the outbreak of the war and its consequences.” He stressed that it is not possible to “try individuals while tension still exists and fighting continues.”
Noting the Sudanese government is keen on implementing the rule of law in Darfur, Taha said Sudan’s national tribunals will maintain their job as was agreed upon during a current visit by Arab League chief Amr Musa to Khartoum.
On July 14, Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder. Judges are expected to take months to study the evidence before deciding whether to order Al-Bashir’s arrest.
He established his charges against al-Bashir on the command responsibility.
With regard to the principle of complementary, and the possibility to try him by the Sudanese judge, the prosecutor told the ICC judges that such option does not exist in the country.
(ST)