Arab lawyers criticize ICC move against Sudanese president www.chinaview.cn 2008-07-14 00:17:04 CAIRO, July 13 (Xinhua) -- The Arab Lawyers Union on Sunday strongly slammed the International Criminal Court (ICC) for its expected move to issue an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir. The ICC decision to charge al-Bashir with war crimes in Darfur is "a flagrant violation of international law, norms and human rights," the Arab Lawyers Union said in a statement. The union also criticized the United States for its alleged role behind the ICC move, saying it's a U.S. decision to punish al-Bashir for "his firm stand in defense of Sudan's just causes." The United States is in an attempt to drag the ICC into a fight against al-Bashir, which contradicts the aim of the international court, said the statement. At the request of Sudan, the Arab League has been in consultation with Arab foreign ministers to hold an emergency meeting on the disputes between Sudan and the ICC. Meanwhile, the U.S. State Department declined on Friday to confirm the reports that ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo would seek the arrest warrant for al-Bashir on alleged genocide charge. http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2008-07/14/content_8539883.htm
