Islamic countries ask UN to defer ICC move against Sudan president
August 4, 2008 (JEDDAH) — Members of the Organisation of the Islamic Conference joined their efforts to the African Union and the Arab League and urged the U.N. Security Council to defer any move by the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omer al-Bashir.
The OIC ministers, who met on Sudan’s request as part of international campaign , described the ICC prosecutor demand for an arrest warrant as “unwarranted and unacceptable,” and expressed “deep concern” that it could undermine efforts to resolve the Darfur conflict and promote peace in Sudan.
Foreign Ministers from Islamic states “urged the UN Security Council to suspend indefinitely the move by the (ICC) prosecutor directed against President Omar Hassan Al-Beshir,” they said in a statement after a meeting at OIC headquarters in the Saudi city of Jeddah.
They decided that the OIC “should coordinate its efforts with the African Union, the League of Arab States, the Non-Aligned Movement and other political groupings to support steps in the UN and elsewhere aimed at defusing this dangerous situation.”
The ministers also hailed the restoration of diplomatic relations between Sudan and Chad, tow members of the OIC, and they described it as good step towards the resolution of Darfur conflict.
They also welcomed the appointment of Djibril Bassolé as U.N. African Union chief mediator for Darfur peace talks expressing hopes that his futures efforts would lead to end the five year-year conflict in the western Sudan.
The Islamic countries call echoed appeals by the African Union and the Arab League for the Security Council to stall any move against Bashir for a year amid warnings it risks stoking further unrest in conflict-ridden Sudan.
ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo last month requested an arrest warrant be issued against Bashir over accusations that he was involved in genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur region.
South Africa and Libya asked the UN Security Council last week to use its powers to delay any action against Bashir for 12 months but the UN only pledged to “consider these matters further.”
(ST)
Kur
Islamic countries ask UN to defer ICC move against Sudan president
It seems that the lives lost in Darfur have no value in the eyes of OIC. When 300000 innocent civilians were tortured, raped, and burnt to death in Darfur, no body utter a simple word saying that we are sorry for the loss of innocent lives. However, as soon as a single man who led the terror against Darfur is asked to tell the world what is going there, people started saying,” no” do not touch him he is muslim and president of Sudan.So, those who are being raped and killed in Darfur are not muslims and the OIC has nothing to say about them.
The people of Darfur have to think again knowing that the Arab League, the OIC, and the AU will not stand behind them in search for justice.Shame on those who are asking for the deteral on Bashir’s indictment. Justice will prevail.
Kur