DAR ES SALAAM, June 3 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania has offered to receive convicts of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to let them serve their jail terms in the country, local media reported on Wednesday.

    The offer was made by Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete while meeting ICC President Sang-Hyun Song in Dar es Salaam on Tuesday.

    "We can accept the convicts to serve their jail terms in Tanzania," said the Tanzanian president.

    Tanzania has been hosting the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda (ICTR) in its northern city of Arusha.

    In another development, Tanzanian Justice Minister Mathias Chikawe has suggested to accommodate an ICC regional office in Arusha where he told the ICC chief has the facilities.

    "Arusha has all the facilities you need for efficient operations," the minister said.

    The ICC president responded to the suggestion by saying that his institution would consider Tanzania's offers in its future planning.

    With its official seat in the Hague of the Netherlands, the International Criminal Court came into being on July 1, 2002 through a founding treaty -- the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.