ID :
14255
Tue, 07/29/2008 - 18:40
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/14255
The shortlink copeid
U.N.S.C. divided over Al-Bashir arrest warrant issue
United Nations, Jul 29 (PTI) The United Nations Security Council (U.N.S.C) is sharply divided whether it should halt the process of International Criminal Court (I.C.C.) issuing arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir on the charges of genocide in the Darfurregion of the country.
I.C.C's. chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has urged the court to issue the arrest warrant on the basis of evidence submitted by him but African nations feel such a step couldadversely affect the efforts to bring peace to the Darfur.
The issue came up Monday as the Council was discussing a resolution to extend the mandate of U.N.-African Union jointpeacekeeping mission which is to expire Thursday.
The Council can suspend I.C.C. action for one year ata time.
Libya and South African, backed by Russia and China, pressed for addition of the language which would prevent I.C.C. from moving against Bashir but the United States,Britain and their allies strongly opposed that.
Washington, London and Paris argue that the two issues are separate and should be treated as such. The I.C.C. action has no bearing on the extension of the mandate of thepeacekeeping mission.
During the discussions Monday, the members failed to reach any agreement. But a resolution would need to beadopted before Thursday midnight.
Diplomats said China, which has close ties with Sudan, did not take active part in the closed door discussion apparently because it does not want any adverse publicity whenthe Olympics are round the corner.
I.C.C's. chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo has urged the court to issue the arrest warrant on the basis of evidence submitted by him but African nations feel such a step couldadversely affect the efforts to bring peace to the Darfur.
The issue came up Monday as the Council was discussing a resolution to extend the mandate of U.N.-African Union jointpeacekeeping mission which is to expire Thursday.
The Council can suspend I.C.C. action for one year ata time.
Libya and South African, backed by Russia and China, pressed for addition of the language which would prevent I.C.C. from moving against Bashir but the United States,Britain and their allies strongly opposed that.
Washington, London and Paris argue that the two issues are separate and should be treated as such. The I.C.C. action has no bearing on the extension of the mandate of thepeacekeeping mission.
During the discussions Monday, the members failed to reach any agreement. But a resolution would need to beadopted before Thursday midnight.
Diplomats said China, which has close ties with Sudan, did not take active part in the closed door discussion apparently because it does not want any adverse publicity whenthe Olympics are round the corner.
