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August 3, 2008

Sudan's Bashir Vows No Cooperation With ICC 
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http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1D84CDB:A6F02AD83191E16079D64E11BFD7678DF47489ACC27D21EE&
 
Mr. Bashir rejects accusations by ICC, which includes campaign of rape,
murder, and deportation in Darfur 
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir review Sudanese army soldiers during
his visit to Darfur (File)Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has vowed
that his country will not cooperate with the International Criminal
Court, which has moved to indict him from alleged war crimes in
Darfur.Addressing local and international trade union leaders in
Khartoum Sunday, Mr. Bashir said Sudan has taken a firm stance that
there will be no cooperation with the court.The ICC's chief prosecutor,
Luis Moreno-Ocampo, accuses Mr. Bashir of masterminding a campaign of
rape, murder, and deportation to destroy three tribes in Sudan's Darfur
region. He has asked the court's judges to issue a warrant for the
Sudanese president's arrest.The African Union has expressed concern that
the ICC's actions could endanger the peace process in Darfur. The United
Nations Security Council noted the AU's concerns in a resolution last
week that extended the mandate of UN and AU peacekeepers in the
region.The African Uni!
 on is expected to send its top permanent official to Sudan Sunday. Jean
Ping, chairman of African Union Commission, is to arrive in Khartoum at
the head of a delegation of AU officials.Darfur rebel groups took up
arms against the Sudanese government in 2003. Experts say the fighting
in the region has killed more than 200,000 people and displaced some 2.5
million.Sudan says Western governments and media have exaggerated the
conflict, and that only about 10,000 people have died.

Some information for this report was provided by Reuters.


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