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UN pulls back staff from Darfur UN pulls back staff from Darfur
(about 1 hour later)
The United Nations is pulling back some non-essential staff deployed in Sudan's restive Darfur region.The United Nations is pulling back some non-essential staff deployed in Sudan's restive Darfur region.
It says the decision comes after recent violence and as a precaution after an international prosecutor accused Sudan's president of genocide.It says the decision comes after recent violence and as a precaution after an international prosecutor accused Sudan's president of genocide.
Judges at the International Criminal Court have still to decide if there are reasonable grounds to issue an arrest warrant against Omar al-Bashir.Judges at the International Criminal Court have still to decide if there are reasonable grounds to issue an arrest warrant against Omar al-Bashir.
Mr Bashir is quoted by Reuters as saying the accusations are lies.Mr Bashir is quoted by Reuters as saying the accusations are lies.
On 8 July, seven Unamid peacekeepers were killed and 22 injured, seven critically, when they were attacked by heavily armed militia in northern Darfur.On 8 July, seven Unamid peacekeepers were killed and 22 injured, seven critically, when they were attacked by heavily armed militia in northern Darfur.
One of my neighbours found a bullet in the gate of the house that he rents UN worker in Darfur Eyewitness: Darfur evacuationOne of my neighbours found a bullet in the gate of the house that he rents UN worker in Darfur Eyewitness: Darfur evacuation
A UN peacekeeping official told the BBC News website the decision to move non-essential UN staff temporarily to locations out of the country - many to Entebbe in Uganda - had been taken after that incident, and as a prudent measure in anticipation of possible Sudanese reaction to the prosecutor's announcement that he is seeking a warrant against Mr Bashir.A UN peacekeeping official told the BBC News website the decision to move non-essential UN staff temporarily to locations out of the country - many to Entebbe in Uganda - had been taken after that incident, and as a prudent measure in anticipation of possible Sudanese reaction to the prosecutor's announcement that he is seeking a warrant against Mr Bashir.
In the US, the White House said President George W Bush was "gravely concerned" by increased insecurity in Darfur and the impact it is having civilians and aid workers.In the US, the White House said President George W Bush was "gravely concerned" by increased insecurity in Darfur and the impact it is having civilians and aid workers.
His spokeswoman said that the government of Sudan needed to live up to its commitment to provide increased security to humanitarian envoys.His spokeswoman said that the government of Sudan needed to live up to its commitment to provide increased security to humanitarian envoys.
As of May this year, the joint UN-African Union Darfur mission, Unamid, included nearly 9,600 uniformed personnel and about 1,300 civilian staff, both international and local.As of May this year, the joint UN-African Union Darfur mission, Unamid, included nearly 9,600 uniformed personnel and about 1,300 civilian staff, both international and local.
It is not clear how many will be withdrawn. But Gen Martin Luther Agwai, Unamid force commander, said the peacekeepers would maintain their unit strength and would not stop patrolling.It is not clear how many will be withdrawn. But Gen Martin Luther Agwai, Unamid force commander, said the peacekeepers would maintain their unit strength and would not stop patrolling.
Sudan's ambassador to the UN rejects the genocide charges
"We will continue to protect the UN personnel and UN facilities that are here and we will continue to help the humanitarian organisations to continue to do their job of rendering humanitarian services to the people in Darfur," Gen Agwai said."We will continue to protect the UN personnel and UN facilities that are here and we will continue to help the humanitarian organisations to continue to do their job of rendering humanitarian services to the people in Darfur," Gen Agwai said.
A Sudanese official told the BBC that he had been informed by Unamid the evacuation would begin on Tuesday.A Sudanese official told the BBC that he had been informed by Unamid the evacuation would begin on Tuesday.
"This is a unilateral decision which the Sudanese government was not involved in," Mr Mutrif Seddeek told the BBC."This is a unilateral decision which the Sudanese government was not involved in," Mr Mutrif Seddeek told the BBC.
While clarifying that the ICC is an independent body over which it has no influence, the UN is nevertheless bracing itself for possible increased difficulties in western Sudan, the BBC's David Bamford reports.While clarifying that the ICC is an independent body over which it has no influence, the UN is nevertheless bracing itself for possible increased difficulties in western Sudan, the BBC's David Bamford reports.
But it is continuing to run, alongside other NGOs, large-scale humanitarian operations there and has thousands of peacekeepers in place, our correspondent notes.But it is continuing to run, alongside other NGOs, large-scale humanitarian operations there and has thousands of peacekeepers in place, our correspondent notes.
Appeal for calmAppeal for calm
Sudan's president was accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur by ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.Sudan's president was accused of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur by ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
ACCUSATIONS AGAINST BASHIR Genocide: Killing members of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groupsCausing these groups serious bodily or mental harmInflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about these groups' physical destruction Crimes against humanity: MurderExterminationForcible transferRapeTorture War crimes: Attacks on civilians in DarfurPillaging towns and villages Bashir move bold but problematicNoose tightens around BashirChina's secret war in SudanACCUSATIONS AGAINST BASHIR Genocide: Killing members of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groupsCausing these groups serious bodily or mental harmInflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about these groups' physical destruction Crimes against humanity: MurderExterminationForcible transferRapeTorture War crimes: Attacks on civilians in DarfurPillaging towns and villages Bashir move bold but problematicNoose tightens around BashirChina's secret war in Sudan
He told judges at The Hague that Omar al-Bashir bore criminal responsibility for alleged atrocities committed over the past five years.He told judges at The Hague that Omar al-Bashir bore criminal responsibility for alleged atrocities committed over the past five years.
Sudan 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 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 cause mayhem in Sudan.It has also labelled Mr Moreno-Ocampo a criminal, and warned that any indictment could stall peace talks and cause mayhem in Sudan.
Sudanese cabinet minister al-Samani al-Wasila told the BBC the accusations were "politically motivated".Sudanese cabinet minister al-Samani al-Wasila told the BBC the accusations were "politically motivated".
The White House urged all parties in Sudan to "remain calm", saying it would "monitor the situation" in The Hague.The White House urged all parties in Sudan to "remain calm", saying it would "monitor the situation" in The Hague.
US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe stressed that the US was not part of the ICC.US National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe stressed that the US was not part of the ICC.
UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged Khartoum to co-operate with the ICC.UK Prime Minister Gordon Brown urged Khartoum to co-operate with the ICC.
HAVE YOUR SAYI strongly support the ICC's move, I do not want to see people dying anymore.Job, SudanSend us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYI strongly support the ICC's move, I do not want to see people dying anymore.Job, SudanSend us your comments
There was no immediate formal reaction from Russia or from China, which is Sudan's biggest arms supplier.There was no immediate formal reaction from Russia or from China, which is Sudan's biggest arms supplier.
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.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.
Sudan's government denies mobilising Arab Janjaweed militias to attack black African civilians in Darfur since rebels took up arms in 2003.Sudan's government denies mobilising Arab Janjaweed militias to attack black African civilians in Darfur since rebels took up arms in 2003.