From: Biniam Tekle (biniamt@dehai.org)
Date: Tue Jul 29 2008 - 10:47:49 EDT
2008-07-29
UN Security Council divided over indictment of Sudanese president
APA-Washington DC- (USA) The 15 members of the United Nations Security
Council on Monday were divided over a proposal to suspend the International
Criminal Court (ICC)'s indictment of Sudanese President Omar Hassan
al-Bashir.
South Africa, Libya, backed by China, Russia and Vietnam, sought an
amendment that would defer for one year, renewable, any prosecution of Mr.
Bashir.
After the meeting the United States ambassador Mr. Zalmay Khalilzad told
reporters that it would be premature for the Security Council to suspend the
ICC indictment.
Last week, Russia's UN ambassador Mr. Vitaly Churkin said the council may
consider suspending the ICC indictment. According to Mr. Churkin, Article 16
of the ICC statute "does give the Security Council certain political
responsibilities".
Under Article 16 of the ICC statute, the 15-member Security Council can pass
a resolution to defer an ICC investigation or prosecution for a period of 12
months.
"We are hopeful that we can come to an agreement that does not deal, in this
resolution, with the issue of the deferral," Mr. Khalilzad also said.
The chief prosecutor of the ICC, Mr. Luis Moreno-Ocampo, formally requested
an arrest warrant on July 14 against the Sudanese president for alleged war
crimes in Darfur.
NK/daj/APA
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