Egypt’s Mubarak warns against ICC warrant for Sudanese president
February 9, 2009 (PARIS) — The Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak warned today from the fallout that could result if the International Criminal Court (ICC) judges issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir.
Mubarak arrived in Paris as his first stop during his 4-day tour in Europe.
Last July the ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo requested that the judges issue an arrest warrant for Bashir on three counts of genocide, five of crimes against humanity and two of murder.
Ocampo accused Al-Bashir of masterminding a campaign to get rid of the African tribes in Darfur; Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa.
ICC judges are expected to issue an arrest warrant for Bashir as early as this week.
“The Egyptian president warned from the consequences of current situation and the possibilities of issuing an arrest warrant for Sudanese president Omer Al-Bashir” Awad said.
“This will have bad impact on the situation in Sudan” he added.
Egypt has in the past criticized the ICC move against Bashir saying that it is a threat to instability in its southern neighbor.
Last week Egypt’s official Middle East News Agency (MENA) quoted foreign ministry spokesperson Hussam Zaki as saying that foreign minister Ahmed Aboul-Gheit and intelligence Chief Omer Suleiman will arrive in Sudan in the coming days.
It is widely expected that they will discuss the widely awaited decision by the ICC as well as Darfur peace talks that are scheduled to start this week in Doha between Khartoum and Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
A JEM delegation is currently in Cairo for talks with Egyptian officials before heading to Qatar.
The Doha round which was supposed to start today has been delayed as a result of JEM needing more time for meetings with Egyptian officials.
Some observers have pointed out that Egypt is uncomfortable with the Qatari role as they consider Sudan their own backyard.
The Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul-Gheit had made statements in the past stressing that the new Darfur initiative is an Arab one and not owned by one single country.
(ST)