Sudanese official wanted by ICC blasts Darfur prosecutor on probe

March 17, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — A Sudanese minister wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for Darfur war crimes rapped the justice ministry after its officials suggested that he could be investigated.

Ahmed Haroun, state minister for humanitarian affairs told reporters in the Sudanese capital that he “regrets” statements by Darfur special prosecutor Nimr Ibrahim Mohamed.

He accused the Darfur prosecutor and the Justice minister Abdel-Basit Sabdarat of taking positions “inconsistent with the state position refusing to deal with the ICC”.

Last week Mohamed said that he is “paying careful attention” to the ICC case against Haroun and militia commander Ali Mohamed Ali Abdel-Rahman, also know as Ali Kushayb.

The Darfur prosecutor described the allegations brought by the Hague-based court against the two men as “serious because it is related to the ICC”. However he fell short of saying whether Haroun will be investigated.

But Haroun said he does not expect that there would be any “concrete” allegations against him.

The ICC charged Haroun and Kushayb on 51 counts of crime against humanity and war crimes in April 2007. Sudan has refused to hand the pair over saying it does not recognize the jurisdiction of the court.

The Sudanese minister speaking angrily said that Mohamed did not “personally” notify him of any investigations implicating him.

“This does not mean that I am above the law” Haroun said before adding that he is prepared for any probe by the justice ministry.

In March 2007 the Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir blocked an attempt by the prosecutor general at the time Salah Abu-Zeid to investigate his role in Darfur crimes.

Furthermore Bashir said that he will not allow Haroun to resign nor will he remove him as requested by some countries such as France.

Last August Sudan’s justice minister told the pro-government Al-Rayaam that no complaint has been filed by any party against Haroun.

“We will not file complaints against Haroun on behalf of Ocampo [ICC prosecutor] or any other foreign party” he said.

Haroun said at the press conference that he is willing to abandon his immunity “if it makes thing easier” provided there are “serious proceedings”.

Ever since the ICC move against Bashir last July Sudan has announced a series of measures to prosecute Darfur war crime suspects.

This included the appointment of Darfur war crimes special prosecutor and adding war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity to the Sudanese penal code.

Furthermore militia leader Kushayb was reported to be held in custody in preparation for trial despite being cleared by Sudanese courts in 2007.

Sudan hopes that the national proceedings may persuade the UN Security Council (UNSC) to suspend the arrest warrant against Sudanese president that was issued earlier this month on seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which include murder, rape and torture.

(ST)