Arab League Diplomats To Decide The Fate Of Sudan's President In Cairo

Cairo, Egypt (AHN) - Arab foreign ministers on Saturday decided to hold talks on avoiding prosecution of Sudan's president after he was charged with genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

Sudan called upon Arab League to hold talks following International Criminal Court's (ICC) Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo allegations and asked for a warrant against its president early last week.

If the warrant is issued, it will be the first of its kind to have ever issued by The Hague-based court against a current head of state.

ICC has accused President Omar al-Bashir of masterminding genocide and crimes against humanity for systematic killings in Sudan's western Darfur region after militia members began their attacks.

In the troubled and violence ridden country, more than 200,000 have died and around two million civilians have been displaced in Darfur following the takeover by militia attacks since 2003.

While, the United Nations has estimated that around 300,000 people have died during the five-year long conflict in Darfur.

Last week, thousands of people protested supporting the country's president after Sudan's ruling bloc released a statement of possible violence over ICC's decision.

President Bashir also chaired an emergency cabinet meeting on possible steps to avoid the arrest, which his National Congress Party said had no legal basis.

Sudan does not recognize ICC and the top leaders warned that the case could jeopardize the peace talks as they violate country's sovereignty.

ICC has agreed to defer Bashir's prosecution for at least a year only if the country hands over two Darfur war crimes suspects in exchange.

Sudan's secretary of state for humanitarian affairs Ahmed Harun and pro-government Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb are accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) and face charges relating to more than 40 counts of crimes against humanity.

The ICC has reportedly issued arrest warrants almost a year ago against the two Sudanese war crimes suspects in a total of 51 counts of war crimes and human rights related crimes like murder, torture, rape and killing of locals in Darfur.

Ahmed Harun is reportedly still, as minister for humanitarian affairs, coordinating attacks against civilians in the camps and affecting the humanitarian help provided by international organizations.

While, Ali Kushayb is charged for ordering the murder, torture and mass rape of innocent civilians during attacks on villages near Kodoom, Bindisi Mukjar and Arawala in west Darfur.

However, the latest decision by the ICC has been criticized by the 22-nation Arab League and several other Arab countries, saying that it threatens peace prospects in Darfur and warned of dangerous repercussions in the country.