Sudan’s Bashir returns home after visits to Qatar and Saudi Arabia
April 1, 2009 (KHARTOUM) — The President Omer Hassan Al-Bashir returned home today after a three day trip to Qatar and Saudi Arabia. He was welcomed at Khartoum airport by thousands of supporters.
Sudanese President made unannounced stop in the Saudi city of Jeddah on Wednesday to perform minor pilgrimage (Umrah) rituals, before his return to Khartoum. He was received at the airport by Governor of Jeddah and a number of Saudi officials.
Upon his arrival to Khartoum Bashir was welcomed by crowds of supporters. The state agency SUNA said the supporters gathering was spontaneous.
“Huge masses of people received him (Al-Bashir) at Khartoum Airport and all streets leading to the airport were filled with the masses who gathered spontaneously to receive the President,” SUNA reported.
In a news conference he held after his arrival, Al-Bashir repeated his rejection to the expelled aid groups accused of cooperating with the International Court of Justice in its investigations on Darfur crimes.
He further emphasized his support for the sudanization of the humanitarian activities in the country within a year. He also warned he would expel any foreign NGOs if they do not abide by the rules of humanitarian law.
“The Sudanese Red Crescent already distributes 45 percent of the food in Darfur. It’s not impossible for us to distribute the 55 percent of the food that remains,” he said.
Al-Bashir was in the Qatari capital Doha to take part in the Arab League and the Arab- South American states summits. The Arab leaders backed strongly Bashir and rejected the ICC arrest warrant against him. They also called upon the 3 Arab members to reconsider their membership at the war crimes court.
Since a week ago Bashir visited five countries Eritrea, Egypt, Libya, Qatar and Saudi Arabia.
On March 4, the ICC judges issued an arrest warrant for Bashir on seven counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, which include murder, rape and torture.
(ST)