Sudan leader tightens grip on power

KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 28 (UPI) -- Despite facing an arrest warrant for genocide, Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is consolidating his grip on power within the country, analysts say.

His political foes are lining up behind him because they fear if he were arrested, the nation would fall into Somalia-style anarchy, The New York Times reported Monday. Bashir is accused by prosecutors of the International Criminal Court in The Hague of mass slayings of non-Muslim Africans in the Sudanese province of Darfur.

Observers told the newspaper that government officials are considering trying two of Bashir's lieutenants -- Ahmad Harun, Sudan's former interior minister, and militia leader Ali Kushayb -- also wanted by the international court. The hope is bringing them to justice might relieve the pressure to turn over Bashir.

The Times said Sudanese leaders feel the country is facing the threat of extinction and so Bashir's former enemies are putting aside their grievances, resulting a major reordering of Khartoum's political scene.