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Sudan leader denies Darfur crimes | Sudan leader denies Darfur crimes |
(30 minutes later) | |
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has denied that his armed forces have targeted civilians in Darfur, in an exclusive interview with the BBC. | Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has denied that his armed forces have targeted civilians in Darfur, in an exclusive interview with the BBC. |
"I challenge anybody to bring me evidence that proves the Sudanese armed forces attacked and killed citizens in Darfur," he told the BBC's HARDtalk. | "I challenge anybody to bring me evidence that proves the Sudanese armed forces attacked and killed citizens in Darfur," he told the BBC's HARDtalk. |
In his first TV interview since being indicted on war crimes charges, he dismissed talk of crimes as propaganda. | In his first TV interview since being indicted on war crimes charges, he dismissed talk of crimes as propaganda. |
Mr Bashir was indicted by the war crimes court on 4 March. | Mr Bashir was indicted by the war crimes court on 4 March. |
He has poured scorn on the International Criminal Court charges, which were the first issued by The Hague-based court against a sitting president. | He has poured scorn on the International Criminal Court charges, which were the first issued by The Hague-based court against a sitting president. |
'Human shields' | |
In the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, Mr Bashir told HARDtalk: "What has been reported to have happened in Darfur did not actually happen at all. | |
We have never fought against our citizens, we have not killed our citizens President Omar al-Bashir Profile: Sudan's Omar al-Bashir | |
"What happened in Darfur was an insurgency. The state has the responsibility to fight the rebels." | "What happened in Darfur was an insurgency. The state has the responsibility to fight the rebels." |
He added: "We have never fought against our citizens, we have not killed our citizens." | He added: "We have never fought against our citizens, we have not killed our citizens." |
The ICC has accused President Bashir of two counts of war crimes - intentionally directing attacks on civilians and pillage - and five counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and torture. | The ICC has accused President Bashir of two counts of war crimes - intentionally directing attacks on civilians and pillage - and five counts of crimes against humanity, including murder, rape and torture. |
HARDtalk quizzed Mr Bashir about claims the Sudanese armed forces had used excessive force. | |
The joint United Nations-African Union (Unamid) peacekeeping force raised concerns over an attack on a refugee camp in Kalma, South Darfur, in August 2008, when 38 people died. | |
The Sudanese leader said government forces had been searching for arms used to shoot down a Unamid plane from inside the camp when rebels opened fire. | |
"Our citizens were used as human shields by the rebels," he said. "Therefore, it was only natural for our forces to carry out their operational duties. | |
"The shooting started from inside the camp, the soldiers returned fire and yes there were casualties. The issue was resolved with the citizens concerned." | |
The UN estimates 300,000 people have died in Darfur's six-year conflict and millions more have been displaced, but President Bashir said such figures were inflated. | |
"You've mentioned facts, let me give you the facts: The casualties in Darfur; they are less than one tenth of what has been reported," he said. | |
"Any talk about crimes committed inside Darfur is a hostile and organised media propaganda to tarnish the reputation of the government and is a part of the declared war against our government." | |
The Sudanese president and his supporters have in the past denounced the ICC charges as part of a Western neo-colonial plot to take over Sudan. | |
The Darfur conflict began in early 2003, when the government and Arab militias launched a campaign against black-African rebel groups. | |
You can see the full interview with President Omar al-Bashir on the BBC News channel in the UK on 13 May at 2330 BST and 15 Friday 0430 BST. | You can see the full interview with President Omar al-Bashir on the BBC News channel in the UK on 13 May at 2330 BST and 15 Friday 0430 BST. |
International viewers can see it on BBC World News on 14 May at 0330, 0830, 1430, 2030 and 2230 GMT. |