Friday, 10 April 2009

Arrest warrant won't help - PM

News24
09/04/2009

Phnom Penh - Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen on Thursday said the International Criminal Court's arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir undermines attempts to end war in Sudan.

"The warrant issued from the Hague will only destroy efforts (to bring peace) in Sudan. It will not have any results. Now you wait and see this," Hun Sen said during a ceremony.

"They have troops in their hands. (They) won't allow the arrest," he added.

The ICC last month issued the warrant to arrest the Sudanese president for alleged crimes against humanity and genocide in Darfur.

A UN-backed genocide court is currently trying former leaders of the 1975 to 1979 Khmer Rouge regime in Cambodia.

The ICC has accused Bashir of criminal responsibility for "exterminating, raping and forcibly transferring large numbers of civilians" from Darfur, where the United Nations says conflict has cost 300 000 lives.

Controversy over allegations

The president has denied the ICC's charges and lashed out by expelling from Darfur 13 aid groups which the Sudanese government accused of co-operating with the ICC, and has defiantly embarked on several state visits in the region.

Sudan's Darfur conflict began after ethnic rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated Khartoum government, complaining of discrimination.

Cambodia's genocide court has arrested five former Khmer Rouge leaders, however, Hun Sen has stated he would rather the court failed than pursue more suspects.

Rights groups have criticised the premier for saying more arrests would destabilise the country.

The Khmer Rouge regime killed up to two million people in its attempt to forge a communist utopia.

The court, which has one trial underway, has faced controversy over allegations of political interference by the government and claims that Cambodian staff were forced to pay kickbacks for their jobs.

- AFP

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