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Sudan's Bashir on visit to Turkey Sudan's Bashir in visit to Turkey
(about 1 hour later)
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir is attending a summit of African leaders in Turkey, his first foreign trip since he was indicted on genocide charges. Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir is attending a summit of African leaders in Turkey, his first foreign trip since he was accused of war crimes.
The charges - also including war crimes and crimes against humanity - relate to the conflict in Darfur. Last month, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor asked the court to issue an arrest warrant related to crimes in Darfur.
Last month, the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor asked the court to issue an arrest warrant - though it has yet to do so. Neither Sudan nor Turkey recognise the international court based at the Hague.
However, Turkey does not recognise the international court. During a meeting with Turkish President Abdullah Gul, in Istanbul, Mr Bashir denied the accusations against him.
Mr Bashir is attending a Turkey-Africa economic co-operation summit taking place at a palace on the Bosphorus Strait. "We are not committing genocide in Darfur," Mr Bashir said, according to a Turkish official quoted by Reuters.
"We are saddened by events there," he added.
Mr Bashir is attending a Turkey-Africa economic co-operation summit taking place at a palace on the Bosphorus Strait. Some 54 African heads of state are at the meeting.
Turkey is keen to complete its membership of the African Development Bank Group, which would allow Turkish firms to compete for development contracts in Africa.Turkey is keen to complete its membership of the African Development Bank Group, which would allow Turkish firms to compete for development contracts in Africa.
It also wants access to Africa's abundant raw materials to fuel its fast-growing manufacturing sector.
'Serious consequences''Serious consequences'
On Monday, Turkey's foreign minister also requested that African nations back the country's bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council, pledging to become its "voice of Africa". On Monday, Turkey's foreign minister asked that African nations back the country's bid for a temporary seat on the UN Security Council, pledging to become its "voice of Africa".
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 problematic African and Arab states are pushing for the suspension of the court's indictment which they say could damage the path to peace in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.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 problematic African and Arab states are pushing for the suspension of the court's indictment which they say could damage the path to peace in Sudan's troubled Darfur region.
Sudan has warned of "serious consequences" for UN staff and facilities based in the country if an arrest warrant is issued for its president.Sudan has warned of "serious consequences" for UN staff and facilities based in the country if an arrest warrant is issued for its president.
ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo sought an arrest warrant against Mr Bashir in July.ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo sought an arrest warrant against Mr Bashir in July.
He accused Sudan's leader of running a campaign of genocide that killed 35,000 people outright, at least another 100,000 through a "slow death" and forced 2.5 million to flee their homes in Darfur.He accused Sudan's leader of running a campaign of genocide that killed 35,000 people outright, at least another 100,000 through a "slow death" and forced 2.5 million to flee their homes in Darfur.
Mr Bashir has said he is not worried by the accusations and his government has denied mobilising the Janjaweed militias, accused of widespread atrocities against Darfur's black African population.Mr Bashir has said he is not worried by the accusations and his government has denied mobilising the Janjaweed militias, accused of widespread atrocities against Darfur's black African population.
The UN estimates that five years of conflict in Darfur have left 300,000 people dead and more than two million people homeless.The UN estimates that five years of conflict in Darfur have left 300,000 people dead and more than two million people homeless.