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Wanted Sudan leader Bashir flies out of South Africa | Wanted Sudan leader Bashir flies out of South Africa |
(35 minutes later) | |
Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes, has left South Africa, pre-empting a court ruling over an international warrant for his arrest. | Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted for war crimes, has left South Africa, pre-empting a court ruling over an international warrant for his arrest. |
The Pretoria High Court was due to decide whether he should be handed over to the International Criminal Court which charged him with the crimes. | The Pretoria High Court was due to decide whether he should be handed over to the International Criminal Court which charged him with the crimes. |
Mr Bashir was in Johannesburg for an African Union (AU) summit. | Mr Bashir was in Johannesburg for an African Union (AU) summit. |
A news conference will be held in Sudan's capital upon his arrival. | A news conference will be held in Sudan's capital upon his arrival. |
On Sunday, a judge barred Mr Bashir from leaving until the arrest application had been considered. | On Sunday, a judge barred Mr Bashir from leaving until the arrest application had been considered. |
Mr Bashir is accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide during the Darfur conflict. | Mr Bashir is accused of committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide during the Darfur conflict. |
The UN says that about 300,000 people in Sudan have died and more than two million have fled their homes since fighting began in 2003. | The UN says that about 300,000 people in Sudan have died and more than two million have fled their homes since fighting began in 2003. |
Government forces and allied Arab militias are accused of targeting black African civilians in the fight against the rebels. | Government forces and allied Arab militias are accused of targeting black African civilians in the fight against the rebels. |
Bashir ruling live | Bashir ruling live |
Rise of Omar al-Bashir | Rise of Omar al-Bashir |
At the hearing at the Pretoria High Court, the lawyer representing the South African government says Mr Bashir's name was not on the list of passengers who took off earlier. | |
But the Sudanese state minister for information has told Reuters news agency that Mr Bashir's plane was expected to land in Khartoum at about 18:30 local time (1530 GMT). | |
It is unlikely that South Africa will face sanctions for allowing Mr Bashir to leave the country even after a court order barred him from leaving the country, says the BBC's Nomsa Maseko in Pretoria. | |
A number of African countries have in the past taken a decision not co-operate with the ICC as the court is seen to be racist and biased against African leaders. | |
So as things stand, Mr Bashir appears to have left South Africa with the blessing of the African Union, our correspondent says. | |
On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the ICC's warrant for the arrest of Mr Bashir must be implemented by countries who have signed up to the court's statutes. | On Monday, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said the ICC's warrant for the arrest of Mr Bashir must be implemented by countries who have signed up to the court's statutes. |
As a member of the ICC, South Africa is obliged to arrest anyone charged by the court. | |
Before the summit, the ICC issued a press statement urging the South African government "to spare no effort in ensuring the execution of the arrest warrant". | |
Darfur conflict: Key points | Darfur conflict: Key points |