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AU Peace and Security Council meets to discuss Sudan-ICC crisis |
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Monday, 21 July 2008 |
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The African Union Peace and Security Council is expected to meet today in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to discuss the crisis between Sudan and the International Criminal Court (ICC).
The Sudanese Representative in the African Union, Mohi Eldin Ali Salim, said he is optimistic that the outcome of the meeting will support Sudan's position.
UN, AU to receive Arab League initiative
The Secretary General of the Arab League, Amru Musa, said after a meeting with President Al-Bashir, that he is mainly making efforts to implement the resolutions of the Arab Foreign Ministers concerning the crisis between Sudan and the ICC.
Speaking to the media after a meeting with President Al-Bashir, Musa said that he will present the initiative of the Arab countries to the United Nations and the African Union.
Sudan's diplomatic efforts seek international support
The Sudanese government meanwhile is exerting diplomatic efforts seeking international support against the indictment of President Al-Bashir by the ICC General Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
The Vice President of the Republic, Ali Osman Mohammed Taha, conveyed on Sunday a message from President Al-Bashir to the Libyan leader Moammar Al-Qaddafi concerning the issue of Sudan and the ICC.
Other prominent government figures including leading member in the National Congress Party Dr. Ghazi Salahdin Al-Atabani, State Minister of Foreign Affairs Ali Karti and Presidential Assistant Dr. Nafie Ali Nafie, are expected to visit Iran and Qatar respectively.
For his part, leading member of the United Democratic Front party, Peter Abdul Rahman Soli played down consequences of the International Criminal Court indictment of President Al-Bashir on the progress of the implementation of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.
Soli told Miraya FM that Ocampo works within an international system.
Pro-Bashir mass march in Khartoum postponed
A mass demonstration against the request of the International Criminal Court to arrest President Omer Al-Bashir which was expected to take place today in Khartoum was postponed to a later date that is not declared yet. Reasons behind the postponement are unknown so far.
The demonstration was supposed to include members of religious groups, political parties, students, and women, farmers and agricultural Unions, as well as Civil Society Organizations.
The United Nations Mission in Sudan warned its staff earlier to be cautious.
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