KHARTOUM, Sudan, Dec. 2 (UPI) -- The International Criminal Court's top prosecutor sought an arrest warrant for Sudan Defense Minister Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein for alleged crimes in Darfur.
Luis Moreno-Ocampo said Hussein is suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Darfur region in 2003 and 2004 when he was Sudan's representative in its western region, the ICC said Friday in a release.
Moreno-Ocampo said evidence indicated Hussein bore the greatest criminal responsibility for the same crimes and incidents listed in 2007 warrants issued for Ahmed Harun and Ali Kushayb because Hussein was Sudan's interior minister and oversaw Harun and Kushayb.
The crimes, including rape and murder, occurred during attacks by government forces and Janjaweed militias in several villages in West Darfur, the ICC said.
"Moreover, the evidence shows … Mr. Hussein played a central role in coordinating the crimes, including in recruiting, mobilizing, funding, arming, training and the deployment of the Militia-Janjaweed as part of the government of the Sudan forces, with the knowledge that these forces would commit the crimes," Moreno-Ocampo said.
The court, based in The Hague, Netherlands, already indicted Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on genocide charges.
