2nd VP Taha to lead Sudan delegation to Arab summit: report

March 29, 2009 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir will not take part in the annual Arab summit in Qatar, a pro-government newspaper reported today.

The Akhir-Lahza newspaper quoting an unnamed senior foreign ministry official said that 2nd Vice President Ali Osman Taha will lead Sudan’s delegation.

There was no official confirmation to the report published Sunday. Sudanese officials have said they will not disclose his travel plans in advance for security reasons.

There has been intense speculation over whether Bashir will attend the summit given the decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) of an arrest warrant for him.

There were also concerns by Khartoum that Bashir’s plane could be intercepted en route to Doha.

The official said that Bashir’s absence is “not out of fear” from the ICC warrant but to allow Arab leaders to deliberate on the court’s decision and determine their position on it.

The Sudanese state minister for foreign affairs Ali Karti was reported to be furious during the Arab League foreign ministers meeting on Saturday for refusing to incorporate some of the demands by Khartoum on the draft resolution.

(ST)