[Al Arabiya Latest] The prosecutor's office at the International Criminal Court (ICC) would ask the court to extend the deadline set for two Darfur rebel leaders to appear voluntarily at The Hague for questioning over their alleged role in a 2007 massacre, well-placed sources told Al Arabiya on Monday.Secret negotiations between the ICC and the Darfur rebel leaders Abdallah Banda and Saleh Jerbo Jamus again failed to ensure the men's voluntary appearance at the court by a previously agreed Feb. 3, deadline.
Banda and Jamus were expected to go to Kenya and Chad respectively, over the past two days, and from there to The Hague to attend a one day procedural court session.
But the two men have not left Darfur and failed to present themselves voluntarily in The Hague as previously promised and agreed with mediators, well informed sources told Al Arabiya on condition of anonymity.
The two rebel leaders were accused by the ICC General Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo of responsibility for the massacre and displacement of more than 15,000 civilians.
Banda is the field commander for the forces of the United Resistance Front (URF), which is led by Bahr Idriss Abu Gharda. He is in charge of all ground operations against Sudanese Government Forces and the forces of the other rebel movement, the Justice and Equality Movement (JEM).
Banda has not left for The Hague primarily because of his occupation with military matters. But both Banda and Jamus are also subject to family pressures against their traveling to The Hague, despite guarantees they would be allowed to leave after one questioning session at the Court.
Independent sources denied early reports the United Nations would assist in the transportation of the two men to The Hague.
The ICC asked last year to use a UN helicopter to transfer to The Hague Bahr Idriss Abu Garda, the leader of Darfur's United Resistance Front, but the request was turned down
But ICC judges could decide on Feb. 3 to issue two arrest warrants for both Banda and Jamus for their failure to appear at the court on deadline, contrary to what they did with URF leader Abu Gharda.