Wanted men still committing crimes in Darfur - ICC

A group of senior Sudanese officials indicted by the International Criminal Court, including the president, continue to commit genocide in western Sudan, the court's prosecutor said on Thursday.

The ICC has issued arrest warrants against President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for genocide as well as former Interior Minister Ahmed Haroun and Janjaweed militia leader Ali Kushayb for war crimes in the Darfur region of western Sudan.

ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo recently asked the court's judges to issue a warrant for Defense Minister Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein in connection with Darfur.

Speaking to the 15-nation U.N. Security Council, Moreno-Ocampo said it was essential that the indicted men be arrested as they are still committing grave crimes in Darfur.

"The execution of the arrest warrants will end the crimes in Darfur," Moreno-Ocampo said. "The individuals sought by the court are still allegedly committing genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur."

"The world knows where the fugitives of the court are," he said. "They are in official positions, controlling the government of the Sudan, commanding military operations in different parts of the Sudan."

He also reported to the council that ICC member Malawi failed to live up to its statutory obligations by failing to arrest Bashir when he visited the country.
Kenya also failed to arrest Bashir when he visited it last year, but a Nairobi court ruled recently that the government must arrest Bashir if he visits the country again. 

Reuters