Sudan says foreign missions may be targets of post-ICC retaliation

January 27, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The Sudanese government today did not rule out today that some foreign embassies may be subject to retaliatory attacks if president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir is charged by the International Criminal Court (ICC).

The London based Al-Hayat newspaper quoted foreign ministry spokesperson as saying that Sudan will carry out their duties “in line with international treaties”.

Khartoum has made frequent warnings that ICC indictment may attract radical groups to launch attacks against Westerners in the country.

In mid-July the ICC’s prosecutor Luis Moreno- Ocampo filed 10 charges: three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder and accused Al-Bashir of masterminding a campaign to get rid of the African tribes in Darfur; Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.

Earlier this month Salah Gosh, the head of Sudan’s National Security and Intelligence Service said that he “cannot predict what will happen” following the issuance of an arrest warrant.

But today the deputy police chief Al-Adel Yacoub also stated that they are taking precautions “against any sabotage operations by suspicious groups if the ICC makes a decision”.

A year ago John Granville, 33, was an official working for the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) in Sudan was shot dead along with his driver on New Years Eve.

Five suspects from an extremist cell were arrested in connection with the killing and their trial is still in process.

(ST)