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| Sudan leader denies Darfur crimes | Sudan leader denies Darfur crimes |
| (10 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 body against a sitting president. | |
| 'Human shields' | '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. | 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 | 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 - as well as 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. | HARDtalk quizzed Mr Bashir about claims the Sudanese armed forces had used excessive force. |
| The joint United Nations-African Union (Unamid) peacekeeping force has 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. | 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. | "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 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. | 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." | "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 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. | 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. | International viewers can see it on BBC World News on 14 May at 0330, 0830, 1430, 2030 and 2230 GMT. |