The United States Friday warned Sudan against retaliating against U.N. peacekeepers, foreign diplomats or others for expected genocide charges against the country's president, Omar al-Bashir. Action by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against the Sudanese leader is expected Monday. With the expectation that the ICC chief prosecutor will seek an arrest warrant against the Sudanese leader Monday, the Bush administration is making clear that it expects Sudan to uphold its international obligations for the safety of diplomats and other foreigners in that country.
Sudan's U.N. ambassador has insisted publicly that Khartoum will not retaliate against U.N. peacekeepers for what would be an unprecedented ICC action against a sitting world leader.
But U.S. officials are deeply concerned about an attack by unidentified gunmen earlier this week in Darfur that killed seven U.N. troops, and warnings by Sudan that action against Mr. al-Bashir would have grave repercussions.