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| South Africa may leave ICC over Bashir arrest row | South Africa may leave ICC over Bashir arrest row |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| South Africa has said it might leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) after a row over the court's attempt to have Sudan's president arrested there. | South Africa has said it might leave the International Criminal Court (ICC) after a row over the court's attempt to have Sudan's president arrested there. |
| Omar al-Bashir was allowed to attend an African Union summit in South Africa despite being wanted by the ICC on charges of genocide and war crimes. | Omar al-Bashir was allowed to attend an African Union summit in South Africa despite being wanted by the ICC on charges of genocide and war crimes. |
| After a cabinet meeting, the government said it would review membership "for a number of reasons". | After a cabinet meeting, the government said it would review membership "for a number of reasons". |
| But it stressed it took its international obligations "seriously". | But it stressed it took its international obligations "seriously". |
| A South African court had ordered Mr Bashir to stay in the country while it ruled whether he could be arrested. The government said he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. | A South African court had ordered Mr Bashir to stay in the country while it ruled whether he could be arrested. The government said he enjoyed diplomatic immunity. |
| Mr Bashir denies allegations committed atrocities in Sudan's troubled western Darfur region. | |
| Analysis: Andrew Harding, the BBC's Africa Correspondent | |
| A senior South African minister, Jeff Radebe, said his government had done nothing wrong, and always obeyed the law. | |
| He was speaking a day after a judge had angrily accused the government of ignoring the constitution and pushing South African democracy towards collapse. | |
| At issue: a government decision to allow Sudan's President, Omar al-Bashir, to leave South Africa last week, in direct defiance of a court order. | |
| Mr Radebe said the International Criminal Court's rules about arresting a head of state were contradictory, and he accused ICC officials of failing to consult, and of not acting in good faith. | |
| This issue is unlikely to fade away, with a number of senior South African officials facing possible criminal charges, for their role in allowing Sudan's president to fly home. | |
| South Africa had "to balance its obligations to the ICC with its obligations to the AU and individual states", the South African government tweeted. | South Africa had "to balance its obligations to the ICC with its obligations to the AU and individual states", the South African government tweeted. |
| The country may consider withdrawing from the ICC as a "last resort", it added. | The country may consider withdrawing from the ICC as a "last resort", it added. |
| Previously, the AU has urged member states not to cooperate with the ICC, accusing it of bias against Africa. | Previously, the AU has urged member states not to cooperate with the ICC, accusing it of bias against Africa. |
| The South African government is due to explain its decision later on Thursday, although its statement may not be made public. |