ICC denies date set for judges’ decision on Bashir warrant
December 17, 2008 (PARIS) – The International Criminal Court (ICC) denied reports that a date has been set for issuing an arrest warrant against Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
“No date regarding the judges’ decision has ever been given by the office of the prosecutor” a statement sent by the Hague based court to Sudan Tribune. The statement is made in reaction to a press release by the Dinka International Congress alleging that the Judge had set a date to issue their verdicton January 3rd, 2009.
“The decision on the request for an arrest warrant against President Al Bashir is now in the hands of the Judges”.
In mid-July the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo submitted a new case against Al-Bashir containing counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.
The judges started reviewing the case in early October and met with the prosecutor after which the latter submitted supporting material on November 17th.
The ICC started a month long judicial recess on December 5th. Most observers expect a decision to be forthcoming next month particularly after remarks by the US and French president.
Earlier this month the French president Nicolas Sarkozy said that Al-Bashir has “days and not weeks” to change situation in war ravaged region of Darfur or will have to face the ICC.
A few days later the US President George Bush said that the Sudanese president “cannot escape accountability”.
The UN Security Council (UNSC) referred the situation in Darfur in March 2005 to the ICC despite Sudan being a non-signatory to the treaty that founded the court.
(ST)