This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7504640.stm

The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Sudan war crime charges expected Sudan war crime charges expected
(about 1 hour later)
The Sudanese president is expected to be accused of genocide and crimes against humanity by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).The Sudanese president is expected to be accused of genocide and crimes against humanity by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Luis Moreno-Ocampo is set to recommend charging Omar al-Bashir in a report to judges at The Hague on investigations into alleged war crimes in Darfur. Luis Moreno-Ocampo is set to ask judges at The Hague to charge Omar al-Bashir, following investigations into alleged war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region.
Sudan's government has warned the move will undermine the peace process there.Sudan's government has warned the move will undermine the peace process there.
This will be the first time the court's prosecutor has tried to make a case against a sitting head of state.This will be the first time the court's prosecutor has tried to make a case against a sitting head of state.
The three-judge panel is expected to take at least six weeks to decide whether to indict the president.The three-judge panel is expected to take at least six weeks to decide whether to indict the president.
Sudan does not recognise the ICC and has refused to hand over two suspects who Mr Moreno-Ocampo charged last year, Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmad Harun and militia leader Ali Kushayb.Sudan does not recognise the ICC and has refused to hand over two suspects who Mr Moreno-Ocampo charged last year, Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ahmad Harun and militia leader Ali Kushayb.
It has also labelled Mr Moreno-Ocampo a criminal, and warned that any indictment could stall peace talks and spread mayhem throughout the country. It has also labelled Mr Moreno-Ocampo a criminal, and warned that any indictment could stall peace talks and cause mayhem in Sudan.
We condemn in the strongest possible terms this move by this criminal Ocampo Abdalmahmood MohamadSudanese representative to UN Sudan braces for charges' impactProfile: Sudan's Omar al-BashirWe condemn in the strongest possible terms this move by this criminal Ocampo Abdalmahmood MohamadSudanese representative to UN Sudan braces for charges' impactProfile: Sudan's Omar al-Bashir
The BBC's Laura Trevelyan at The Hague says that while some will welcome this move as a victory for justice, others fear it will undermine the peace process in Darfur and spark further violence.The BBC's Laura Trevelyan at The Hague says that while some will welcome this move as a victory for justice, others fear it will undermine the peace process in Darfur and spark further violence.
The UN estimates that some 300,000 people have died as a result of the conflict in Darfur since 2003, while more than two million people have fled their homes.The UN estimates that some 300,000 people have died as a result of the conflict in Darfur since 2003, while more than two million people have fled their homes.
Sudan's government is accused of mobilising Arab militias to attack black African civilians in Darfur, after rebels took up arms in 2003 - charges it denies.Sudan's government is accused of mobilising Arab militias to attack black African civilians in Darfur, after rebels took up arms in 2003 - charges it denies.
'Disastrous''Disastrous'
Mr Moreno-Ocampo's office has said he will submit to the ICC on Monday "evidence on crimes committed in the whole of Darfur over the last five years" and seek to charge an individual or individuals, but gave no further details. Mr Moreno-Ocampo's office has said he will submit to the ICC on Monday "evidence on crimes committed in the whole of Darfur over the last five years" and seek to charge an individual or individuals.
The prosecutor said last month that Sudan's "entire state apparatus" was involved in an organised campaign to attack civilians in Darfur, and that he would present judges with evidence implicating senior government officials. The prosecutor said last month that Sudan's "entire state apparatus" was involved in an organised campaign to attack civilians in Darfur, and that he would present evidence implicating senior officials.
Thousands of pro-government protestors took to the streetsThousands of pro-government protestors took to the streets
On Sunday, thousands of people rallied in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to show their support for Mr Bashir and to denounce the anticipated charges.On Sunday, thousands of people rallied in the Sudanese capital Khartoum to show their support for Mr Bashir and to denounce the anticipated charges.
"With our souls, with our blood we die for Bashir," the demonstrators chanted outside an office where the president was chairing an emergency meeting."With our souls, with our blood we die for Bashir," the demonstrators chanted outside an office where the president was chairing an emergency meeting.
Sudan's representative at the United Nations told the BBC that any charges against Mr Bashir would be disastrous for the security and stability of Sudan.Sudan's representative at the United Nations told the BBC that any charges against Mr Bashir would be disastrous for the security and stability of Sudan.
"We condemn in the strongest possible terms this move by this criminal Ocampo," said Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad."We condemn in the strongest possible terms this move by this criminal Ocampo," said Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamad.
The ruling National Congress party has meanwhile warned of "more violence and blood" in Darfur.The ruling National Congress party has meanwhile warned of "more violence and blood" in Darfur.
Mr Bashir said he had been angered by talk of his possible arrest, but added that it made him more determined to push for peace.
I'm very worried, but nobody can evade justice UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon
"Our decisive response to them is that our issues are progressing and as before, our programmes are moving, and that this matter only increases our determination and seriousness to progress in the same direction," he told state radio.
"This talk has angered us and prompted us to move this way. We will move forward, God willing. We are committed to remove the country from a crisis."
But a leader of one of the factions of the Sudan Liberation Army rebel group told the BBC it would welcome any action by the ICC.But a leader of one of the factions of the Sudan Liberation Army rebel group told the BBC it would welcome any action by the ICC.
"The regime in Khartoum committed a big crime… We think the ICC is going the right way," Abdul Khalil said."The regime in Khartoum committed a big crime… We think the ICC is going the right way," Abdul Khalil said.
Alert raised Peacekeeping fears
UN officials are concerned of possible revenge attacks against peacekeepers and aid workers in Darfur and elsewhere in Sudan, if moves are made against President Bashir. UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon told the French newspaper, Le Figaro, that he was "very worried" about the possible impact of any indictment on peacekeeping operations and the political process, but added that "nobody can evade justice".
A UN spokeswoman said it had raised the security alert level for its staff in Darfur. Earlier, a UN spokeswoman said it had raised the security alert level for its staff in Darfur.
The joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (Unamid), which has 9,000 troops, has been struggling to contain the violence.The joint United Nations-African Union Mission in Darfur (Unamid), which has 9,000 troops, has been struggling to contain the violence.
The joint UN-AU force has been struggling to bring peace to the regionThe joint UN-AU force has been struggling to bring peace to the region
It has raised the security alert for its staff to "level four", which stops short of evacuating all staff, but relocates foreign workers who are not directly involved in relief or security operations.It has raised the security alert for its staff to "level four", which stops short of evacuating all staff, but relocates foreign workers who are not directly involved in relief or security operations.
John O'Shea, director of Irish aid agency Goal, warned the Sudanese government and its supporters not to seek revenge against international aid agencies and peacekeepers for the ICC's moves.John O'Shea, director of Irish aid agency Goal, warned the Sudanese government and its supporters not to seek revenge against international aid agencies and peacekeepers for the ICC's moves.
"Should the Sudanese government take that type of action, they're in a way shooting themselves in the foot," he told the BBC."Should the Sudanese government take that type of action, they're in a way shooting themselves in the foot," he told the BBC.
"The NGO community and the UN agencies have done a very good job in the context of looking after hundreds of thousands of vulnerable and desperately poor people.""The NGO community and the UN agencies have done a very good job in the context of looking after hundreds of thousands of vulnerable and desperately poor people."
The ICC was set up in 2002 as the world's first permanent war crimes court.The ICC was set up in 2002 as the world's first permanent war crimes court.
Other international courts have previously indicted Serbia's President Slobodan Milosevic and President Charles Taylor of Liberia while they were in office.Other international courts have previously indicted Serbia's President Slobodan Milosevic and President Charles Taylor of Liberia while they were in office.