KAMPALA, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), Luis Moreno-Ocampo on Monday said it is the legal obligation of Uganda to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir when he visits the East African country.

    Ocampo, flanked by Okello Oryem, Uganda's Minister of State for International Affairs, told reporters here that Uganda should follow other African countries like South Africa which have warned that Bashir risks arrest if he visits them.

    "I will insist that if President Bashir is coming here, it is the legal obligation on Uganda directly," he said.

    Bashir is scheduled to visit Uganda on July 26 to take part in the Smart Partnership Dialogue, which would bring together leaders from around the world.

    The Hague-based court has charged Bashir with crimes against humanity and war crimes.

    The African Union summit held early this month in Sirte, Libya, adopted a resolution instructing the countries which are ICC members not to cooperate in apprehending Bashir despite their legal obligations to do so.

    Uganda's Foreign Minister Sam Kutesa last Friday defended Uganda's support to the resolution, saying the AU will pronounce itself after its own probe led by former South African President Thabo Mbeki is done.

    Kutesa also argued that Uganda's support to the AU resolution does not contradict its obligations under the Rome Statute, which established the ICC, or jeopardize its bid to host the ICC summit next year.

    "There is no question or second guess about our commitment to the ICC and there is no doubt about our commitment to the AU," he said.

    Ocampo, however, noted the AU declaration is a political one, which doesn't exempt the legal duties of member countries of the Rome Statute.

    "AU declarations are not changing the specific obligation of the specific African State party of the Rome Statute," he stressed.

    Ocampo is scheduled to meet Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni later in the day before he winds up his two day visit here.

    Museveni during a visit to Germany last month told German MPs that it was agreed at the AU neither to condemn Bashir nor to condone him before they get the report from Mbeki.