Prosecutor downplays al-Bashir issues

Published: July 5, 2009 at 1:00 PM

KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 5 (UPI) -- An International Criminal Court prosecutor says his work against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will not be impacted by the African Union.

Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo said while African Union members have decided not to arrest Bashir should he enter their countries, the lack of cooperation does not mean they feel Bashir is innocent of war crimes charges, the BBC reported Sunday.

"No one is saying he's innocent," Ocampo said.

Bashir stands accused of orchestrating attacks on civilians in his country's Darfur region, as well as a number of crimes against humanity.

The Sudanese leader has maintained his innocence, saying he was simply attempting to contain rebels in the troubled region.

Ocampo told the BBC African states would have to make independent decisions regarding how they will deal with the Sudanese official should he visit their lands.

© 2009 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Order reprints



Additional News Stories
COL FB: Oklahoma St. 34, Iowa St. 8 (1 min)
COL FB: Arizona 48, Washington State 7 (4 min)
COL FB: Alabama 24, LSU 15 (6 min)
NHL: Nashville 3, Los Angeles 1 (20 min)
3 Phillies going under the knife (22 min)
Pistons' Prince out with back injury (28 min)
Pavano, Putz file for free agency (28 min)
fark
Bad: You and an intruder get into a fight & you break your hand on his face. Worse: The police sic...
Theme: Palindromes
Example of reality art: lawmaker is sculpted in cow manure
For all the "Hold my beer and watch this" crowd, you now don't have to burn your house down this...
Boy who left Vietnam as a 5-year-old refugee crammed onto a fishing trawler returns 34 years later...
Miss England, who looks like a drag queen, steps down after nightclub brawl. Please welcome her...