ABU DHABI — A top Sudanese government official has reiterated that his country will not hand over any citizen to the International Criminal Court (ICC) for trial in connection with the Darfur violence. “We’ll not hand over any Sudanese citizen to the ICC because Sudan is not a member of this court (ICC). The Security Council cannot refer Sudanese nationals to be tried at the ICC,” said Dr Mustafa Othman Ismail, adviser to Sudanese President Omer Al Bashir.
| Hmmmm. We have the same rule in the U.S. But for different reasons. |
On May 3, the ICC had issued arrest warrants against two suspects wanted in connection with the violence in SudanÂ’s Darfur region. The warrants issued against Ahmed Muhammed Haroon, former minister of state for interior of the government of Sudan and currently minister of state for humanitarian affairs, and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Muhammed Abdul Rahman, who were accused of targeting civilians in attacks on four villages in West Darfur between August 2003 and March 2004.
| Both of whom are very bad boys, and both of whom should be 'taken for a drive into the desert', as opposed to being jugged at The Hague. |
Speaking to the media in the capital yesterday, Dr Ismail, who is currently on an official visit to the UAE, stressed that the Sudanese government would not succumb to international pressure, especially on decisions that might affect the national security of the country. |