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Sudan's leader, UN chief face off at Arab summit
The UN chief confronted Sudan's embattled president on Monday with demands to allow the return of expelled aid groups to Darfur -- and was met with a defiant response as Arab leaders rallied to his side to formally reject international war crime charges against him. The Arab League declaration is likely to boost Omar al-Bashir's willingness to challenge the West and flaunt his wide support among Arabs in opposing the arrest order by the International Criminal Court. Al-Bashir's attendance among other Arab leaders was his boldest public snub of the ICC's decision, bringing him to the same conference hall as UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon for the summit's opening speeches. Ban's spokesperson, Michele Montas, said the two men were in the same room, but did not speak or interact. "Relief efforts should not become politicised," Ban said. "People in need must be helped irrespective of political differences," he added in an appeal to resume relief efforts to Darfur. Posted by: Fred 2009-04-01 |
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