KHARTOUM, July 18 (Xinhua) -- The Sudanese government
on Friday ruled out a settlement deal with the International Criminal Court
(ICC) on handing over two accused Sudanese officials in return for dropping a
warrant arrest against President Omar al-Bashir.
"We would never surrender our minister Ahmad Harun or
any ordinary citizen. We refuse to deal with this court, and that is our strong
position," Sudanese Minister of Guidance and Waqfs Azhari Altijani told Xinhua
in the Sudanese capital.
Western diplomats in New York have said a deal could
be struck to drop or suspend the warrant for Bashir if he agreed to hand over
Humanitarian Affairs State Minister Ahmed Haroun and militia leader Ali Kushayb
from the Janjaweed, who were indicted by the ICC last year.
The Sudanese capital also witnessed a massive
demonstration against the ICC on Friday.
Worshippers emerged from Friday prayers gathered in
front of Khartoum's Republican Palace, and demonstrators burned pictures of the
ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, chanting slogans against the court.
Representatives from Arab and Muslim communities in
Khartoum also participated in the demonstration.
The Hague-based ICC's Chief
Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on Monday formally requested an arrest warrant against
Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the western
Sudanese region of Darfur.
Altijani said that Sudan has asked Russia, China and
members of the Arab League and the African Union to help it pursue a UN Security
Council resolution suspending a warrant for Bashir for 12 months.
NAIROBI, July 18
(Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government on Friday called on the international
community to rise up and reject the indictment against Sudanese President Omar
Hassan al-Bashir by the International Criminal Court. Full story
CAIRO, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Egyptian Foreign Minister
Ahmed Abul Gheit said Thursday accusations made by the International Criminal
Court's (ICC) chief prosecutor against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir are
"very dangerous." Full story
KHARTOUM, July 17 (Xinhua) -- Nafie Ali Nafie,
assistant to the Sudanese president, said on Thursday an arrest warrant sought
by chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the
Sudanese president has unified the people of Sudan. Full story
