OAU Leader:Gadafi Speaks out
A day after the ICC issued an arrest warrant on Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, the African Union has convened an emergency summit in Ethiopia in an attempt to defer the court’s action, saying it will hurt the peace in the country.
AU Commission chief Jean Ping said he was “deeply concerned at the far-reaching consequences of this decision, which comes at a critical juncture in the process to promote lasting peace in the Sudan.”
Following the ICC decision, a defiant Bashir addressed thousands of supporters Thursday in Khartoum, lashing at the West.
“The true criminals are the leaders of the United States and Europe,” he told the mass protest, according to BBC.
“One day we will take them to justice.”
The Union leadership said the ICC was biased against Africa citing the court’s four active investigations are all in Africa.
African nations had hoped to convince the ICC not to issue the warrant, said Burkina Faso’s Ambassador Bruno Nongoma Zidouemba to VOA. Read more »
