| The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court has asked judges for arrest warrants to be issued for rebel commanders in Sudan's Darfur region. | The prosecutor at the International Criminal Court has asked judges for arrest warrants to be issued for rebel commanders in Sudan's Darfur region. |
| Luis Moreno-Ocampo alleges they killed 12 African Union peacekeepers in an assault on their base last year. | Luis Moreno-Ocampo alleges they killed 12 African Union peacekeepers in an assault on their base last year. |
| In July, Mr Moreno-Ocampo asked for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to be indicted on war crimes charges in Darfur - which he strongly denies. | In July, Mr Moreno-Ocampo asked for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to be indicted on war crimes charges in Darfur - which he strongly denies. |
| Some fear that if this indictment proceeds it could derail peace efforts. | Some fear that if this indictment proceeds it could derail peace efforts. |
| Last week, Mr Bashir announced an immediate ceasefire in the Darfur and promised to begin disarming militias and restrict the use of weapons among armed groups. | Last week, Mr Bashir announced an immediate ceasefire in the Darfur and promised to begin disarming militias and restrict the use of weapons among armed groups. |
| I will not let such attacks go unpunished ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo | I will not let such attacks go unpunished ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo |
| But on Thursday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he had received "troubling reports" of aerial bombings near Kutum in North Darfur, and fighting in the area of Tine, in West Darfur. | But on Thursday, UN chief Ban Ki-moon said he had received "troubling reports" of aerial bombings near Kutum in North Darfur, and fighting in the area of Tine, in West Darfur. |
| The Sudanese government has denied rebel claims it bombed their territory. | The Sudanese government has denied rebel claims it bombed their territory. |
| The UN estimates that up to 2.7 million people have been forced from their homes in Darfur and some 300,000 have died during five-and-a-half years of conflict. | The UN estimates that up to 2.7 million people have been forced from their homes in Darfur and some 300,000 have died during five-and-a-half years of conflict. |
| Lobbying | Lobbying |
| "There are reasonable grounds to believe that these rebel commanders bear criminal responsibility... for murder, intentionally directing attacks against personnel and objects involved in a peacekeeping mission and pillaging," Mr Moreno-Ocampo said after presenting his case to the ICC judges at The Hague, AFP news agency reports. | "There are reasonable grounds to believe that these rebel commanders bear criminal responsibility... for murder, intentionally directing attacks against personnel and objects involved in a peacekeeping mission and pillaging," Mr Moreno-Ocampo said after presenting his case to the ICC judges at The Hague, AFP news agency reports. |
| "I will not let such attacks go unpunished," he said. | "I will not let such attacks go unpunished," he said. |
| The ICC has already issued two arrest warrants - in 2007 - for a Sudanese minister and pro-government militia leader for alleged war crimes in Darfur. | The ICC has already issued two arrest warrants - in 2007 - for a Sudanese minister and pro-government militia leader for alleged war crimes in Darfur. |
| Sudan has refused to co-operate with the ICC case and insists on conducting its own investigations. | Sudan has refused to co-operate with the ICC case and insists on conducting its own investigations. |
| Militia leader Ali Mohamed Ali Abdel-Rahman - known as Ali Kushayb - was taken into custody by Sudanese authorities this year. | Militia leader Ali Mohamed Ali Abdel-Rahman - known as Ali Kushayb - was taken into custody by Sudanese authorities this year. |
| Mr Moreno-Ocampo has said there are grounds to believe Sudan's president bears criminal responsibility on 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. | Mr Moreno-Ocampo has said there are grounds to believe Sudan's president bears criminal responsibility on 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. |
| Sudan's government has always denied charges that it armed the Janjaweed militias accused of widespread atrocities against civilians in Darfur. | Sudan's government has always denied charges that it armed the Janjaweed militias accused of widespread atrocities against civilians in Darfur. |
| It is lobbying hard for the UN Security Council to delay an ICC investigation into whether President Bashir should be charged. | It is lobbying hard for the UN Security Council to delay an ICC investigation into whether President Bashir should be charged. |
|
|
| What do you think of the ICC move? Do you think Sudan will co-operate this time? What effect might this have on the peace process in Darfur? Send us your comments using the form below: |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |
| |
