Sudan says Bashir not attending Copenhagen summit over Prophet cartoon
November 23, 2009 (WASHINGTON) – The Sudanese president Omer Hassan Al-Bashir will not travel to Copenhagen for the UN climate change summit in retaliation for Danish cartoons depictions of the prophet Mohamed that caused global Muslim outrage three years ago, a senior Sudanese official said.
The Sudanese head of state faces an arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) last March accusing him of orchestrating war crimes in Darfur. Despite making several trips in the region, Bashir has so far avoided states that have ratified the ICC statute.
Amnesty International (AI) urged Denmark as a signatory to the Rome Statute to make it clear that Bashir will be arrested if he travels to Copenhagen. Last week, Kamal Obeid the Sudanese ruling National Congress Party (NCP) information Secretary dismissed the call adding that the invitation was addressed to the government and not to Bashir personally
Obeid further said that no decision has been made on the level of participation in the summit. A source in Khartoum told Sudan Tribune that 2nd Vice president Ali Osman Taha will lead Sudan delegation to the conference.
The Sudanese ambassador to the UN Abdel-Mahmood Abdel-Haleem told BBC ‘Hardtalk’ that “there is nothing preventing president Bashir to move anywhere”.
“But really for us going to Copenhagen at the highest levels also has its own political calculations because after the defamation and the characterization of prophet Mohamed any Muslim leader will find it difficult to go to Copenhagen” Abdel-Haleem said.
Asked whether Sudan fears that Bashir could be arrested on Danish soil, he said that the conference is a UN one and not a bilateral one which means that “he is free to go anywhere”.
“Whatever you mention piracy is there in international relations which is very regrettable fact. We have our position made very clear on this so called ICC” the Sudanese envoy said.
Abdel-Haleem said that the election of Sudan as the chair of the G-77 and China group this year proves that the arrest warrant has not isolated his country.
Analysts say that the Sudanese president is limited in his travels abroad out of fear that being in international airspace makes him at risk of being apprehended and extradited to the Hague.
Bashir turned out several invitations in the last few months to attend conferences in Uganda, Nigeria, Venezuela and US.
(ST)
Dinka Boy
Sudan says Bashir not attending Copenhagen summit over Prophet cartoon
Bashier always happy when invited in Eygpt. He is the coward leader who can not lead us(Southerners).
Stop inviting Criminal Bashier because he scare like rate.
He even never come to the South while he is our president.
Shame on coward.
Garang Arok
Sudan says Bashir not attending Copenhagen summit over Prophet cartoon
AL BASHIR,A BIG BABY FAKING PAIN ON THE JOB!
I think prophet/whoever he was,mohammad must have been a sudanese in anyway, but what bothers all the sudanese is what his state must have been among roughly twentysix states making the country national boundaries.
Because everytime there seems to be some faint statements around the world about Mohammad for instant:
-the cartoon with a bomb,
-the tedybea named mohammad,
-pope’s speech and anything else,
always the first people to react to those statements are sudanese,more especially the self-proclaimed sudanese arabs in khartoum ,but in reality the sixty thousand years sudan history does contain any name like mohammad rather than the true African names that came down through Kingdoms of:Median,Kush,Alwa,Majda,Irtet which all merged into Kingdoms of:Meroe,Nubia and Dunglah etc.
The intruders based in khartoum distorted the sudan national history by their barbaric cultures of arrogance,cheating and abuses of all sorts.
The issue withholding al Bashir from Copenhagen summit is a fear of being arrested over his messes not depiction of mohammad in cartoon that had long gone.
Blair
Sudan says Bashir not attending Copenhagen summit over Prophet cartoon
The iron-fist, National Congress is so smart in crafting excuses that Mr. Bashir turns down Copenhagen summit protesting cartoons depicting prophet Mohammed made by Danish state three years ago.This is a great lie in the broad day light to the whole world by mr. ambassador. The fact is that the president fear risking his dearly life being snatch off by the ICC once he is in the internatinal space live alone setting foot in the Rome statute state’s soil. This statement is a solid evident that whatever coming from Khartoum is nothing else other than false this regime has been telling the world throughout its reign.
Samson Shawel Ambaye
Sudan says Bashir not attending Copenhagen summit over Prophet cartoon
God be with ICC UNSC and Denmark. Teen Bashir is playing childish game he is saying that he has no risk to travel except Danish cartoons anger. Even 5-year old children never believe your lie. You are not traveling because you are scared of an arrest by ICC.
Leader of Ethiopian illegal government is protecting Bashir and condemning ICC arrest warrant he has to be isolated and arrested for humiliating pro-justice international community ICC and UNSC. He doesn’t deserve attending summit with gentle pro-justice leaders.
Diro79
Sudan says Bashir not attending Copenhagen summit over Prophet cartoon
WOW WHAT AN EXCUSE, THE COWARD IS NOW BEHAVING LIKE SADAAM HUSSEIN EH! WHO DIES LIKE A CRIMINAL HE WAS. SAME THING WILL HAPPEN TO THIS MISERABLE VULTURE UMAR EL BASHIR. YOU WILL BE EATEN BY PIGS JUST AS YOUR PROPHET MOHAMED WAS EATEN BY PIGS.
PEACE YO!
Hillary B.M.L,M
Sudan says Bashir not attending Copenhagen summit over Prophet cartoon
Haaaaaaa!!!! Bashier Restricted, forbidden and isolated.
What can he do? In one year he will not touch South Sudan.
Haaaaaa Criminal Muslim.
jamuse
Sudan says Bashir not attending Copenhagen summit over Prophet cartoon
Oh’
why do UN killed Sadam Hussien????????.
This UN branch will be stop if Bashir resist it.It is negligent for countries who let their leaders to face ICC.
no thank
Kur
Sudan says Bashir not attending Copenhagen summit over Prophet cartoon
Tell us the truth. We know that you’re afraid of being arrested in Denmark. The prophet or the killer of the innocent people has nothing to lose if you go to Denmark.
Kur