International Court issues arrest warrant for Sudanese president (for genocide)

[cali]

Sudanese president charged with genocide for campaign of violence in Darfur

Omar Hassan al-Bashir could be first sitting president to be indicted for genocide

Sudanese official: Possible international prosecution stupid and malicious

About 300,000 have died in Darfur, U.N. says; 2.5 million forced from homes




THE HAGUE, Netherlands (CNN) -- The International Criminal Court at the Hague issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for a five-year campaign of violence in Darfur.


Al-Bashir is the first sitting head of state to be charged by the permanent war crimes court.

1 of 2 Bashir is charged with seven counts of crimes against humanity and war crimes. The warrant does not mention genocide, but the court may issue an amended warrant to include that charge later, ICC spokeswoman Laurence Blairon said.

Five counts are for crimes against humanity and include murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, and rape, Blairon said. The other two are for war crimes, for intentionally directing attacks against civilians and for pillaging.

"Bashir's official capacity as head of state does not exclude criminal responsibility or get him immunity," Blairon said in announcing the warrant.

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http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/03/04/sudan.president.darfur.charges/

[cali]

1. I'm damned glad to see this.

The Darfur genocide has been largely ignored for far too long.

[Ohio Joe]

2. Yes, but they also...

need to issue warrants for Bush/Cheney.

[cali]

3. they can't. The U.S. is not a signatory to the court.

[Ohio Joe]

4. I did not know that

I'll have to look into this, find out who I need to start pestering to get us signed on.

[cali]

6. here's a link to the wiki piece on the court

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Criminal_Court

[Zywiec]

5. How will they get him to the court? n/t