Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
June 27, 2011 (KHARTOUM) – The Sudanese foreign ministry issued a statement on Monday morning confirming that the plane carrying president Omer Hassan al-Bashir returned to Iran as he was heading to China for a state visit.
Sources said that the route was deemed risky and therefore they decided to return to Tehran.
“The plane of Field Marshal Omer al-Bashir President of the Republic to the Chinese capital Beijing, which had been scheduled for yesterday evening was delayed because of an amendment that took place on the route of the presidential plane over the territory of Turkmenistan at a time that it was no longer possible to pass through the new path forcing the pilot to return to Iran after flying over the territory of Turkmenistan at 9:30 yesterday evening Iran local time” said the statement.
The ministry said they expect Bashir to arrive in Beijing later today after assigning a new route to the presidential plane.
It is not clear why the plane could not continue on to Beijing or what path it was taking.
On Monday Chinese foreign ministry staff told Agence France Presse (AFP) that Bashir’s plane had been “delayed.” Eleven hours after his scheduled arrival they said they still had no updated information on when Bashir would land.
The Sudanese ambassador was reportedly in the airport to receive Bashir but returned after the president failed to show up.
Bashir, who faces indictment from the International Criminal Court over war crimes, had been due to arrive in Beijing for talks that will focus on Sudan’s impending split into two countries.
“This afternoon’s activities have been cancelled,” a ministry staff member said, referring to a scheduled late afternoon meeting with the Chinese leade Hu Jintao.
Bashir left the Iranian capital on Sunday heading to China after participating in a conference on combating terrorism.
His invite by Beijing has outraged human right groups who wanted China to withdraw the invitation or arrest him.
But China said that it was “reasonable” to invite Bashir and noted it was not an ICC member even though it was the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) referred the situation in Darfur to the Hague tribunal.
Bashir was due to stay in China — a key supporter of the regime in Khartoum — until Thursday.
(ST)
choldit
Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
Bashier is about to meet his fate. He is not coming home again. Dr. Riek Gai or Dr. Taha is taking his pose.
Cibaipiath Junub Sudan
Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
The hour has not come. Bashir has enough time to preach wars’ idealogy to economist countries. He is due to more travels outside his home country.
Sam.Eto
Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
Why dony you clowns worry about your countries fate and the millions of starving & illiterates you have. You idiots forget you need him for you independence to be official.
Nhomlawda
Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
Al Bashir is wasting fuel and time.
He is a coward and must return to Khartoum – his hiding place.
talentboy2
Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
Hello everyone
This is a breaking news: Sudan president Omar El bashir has been captured along with his loyal security Guards as he try to pass through the gulf nation air, the icc suspect was forced down to land in military base in Doha by states of Qatar and Jordan. The future of dictator is unknown at the movement. so stay firm and follow the news development about this primitive leader.
Mawut
Garang
Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
To be official our independence needs no war criminals to make it so.With or with out him we are going to have a place on the World Map and political arenas.
DeltaBravo
Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
To SAM
Two Sudan are going to be better neighbors to live side by side without Bashir. God is willing.
Emmanuel Ajang Solomon
Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
Eto. Your words will be good after 10 years of nothing done in the New Nation of the republic of South Sudan.
I think what you are always telling us is not insult but the reality of our situation and that is why we have decided to break up the country in to 2.
Bashier is not important, what was important was the referundum which was conducted to show the will of the people, like we want it in Abyie without messerya, so that they can decide to remain in the north or come back to the South.
we shall have many problems but far better then being together again with U since the rest of the remaining part of us like Nuba, Engasina will also break away soon after 10 years.
NCP Khartoum Government can not and will never be good to its people unless changed.
Makuei
Sudan says Bashir plane returned to Iran after flying over Turkmenistan
Ali,
We dont need Bashir to make South an official Country.
We have voted official and that’s why we have power to invite him or not for the ceremony.
If Bashir fly over the South territories from now on, then he is flying over a foreign,Country who will shoot him down before he reach Hague.
July 9th is not a day to tell Khartoum that we are a nation but to tell the world that we made it home.