The Sudanese government reiterated on Thursday its refusal of
handing over two suspects accused of war crimes in the western
Sudanese region of Darfur to the International Criminal Court
(ICC).
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"The government will not allow any Sudanese citizen to be tried
outside the country," Sudanese Minister of Justice Mohammed Ali
al-Mardi told reporters.
He denied that the Sudanese government had received any request
from the ICC on the extradition of Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kushayb to
the international court.
Ahmed Haroun, the state minister for humanitarian affairs, and
Ali Kushayb, a militia commander in Darfur, were accused in
February by the ICC of committing war crimes, and warrants were
issued for them in April.
"We do not recognize the International Criminal Court. This
position is fixed and we will not make any compromise on it," the
justice minister said.
On the possibility that the two suspects would be arrested by
the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), al-Mardi
said any action of arresting a Sudanese citizen with incorrect
procedures would be regarded as kidnap or abduction.
Sudan has not ratified the Rome Convention on the establishment
of the ICC.
(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2007)
