Bloodshed feared if Sudan leader charged

UNITED NATIONS, July 12 (UPI) -- Diplomats say they fear there could be a violent backlash from word that the president of Sudan might be charged with crimes against humanity.

The Times of London reported Saturday that Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the international prosecutor, plans to seek an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir Monday from judges of the International Criminal Court.

About 300,000 people reportedly have died in Sudan since government-backed Janjawid Arab militias began driving villagers from their homes in 2003.

If a warrant is issued, al-Bashir will become the first sitting head of state and the first Arab leader to be charged by the international court in The Hague.

The Sudanese ambassador to the United Nations, Abdalmahmood Mohamad, said the repercussions of charging al-Bashir could be severe.

"It's playing with fire. We want to caution and alert the international community to the possible consequences," he said. "All options are open for us. All reactions are open."

To help avert bloodshed, diplomats and U.N. officials have been discussing possible UN peacekeeping missions in Darfur and southern Sudan.