Rights groups want swift hand over of Sudan’s Bashir to ICC

KHARTOUM: Rights groups pushed Wednesday for the swift handover of Omar al-Bashir to the International Criminal Court after Sudan´s new authorities pledged to bring the ousted strongman to justice for alleged war crimes in Darfur.

Top Sudanese officials said Tuesday that the country´s new rulers had agreed with rebel groups to send Bashir and three former aides to The Hague-based court for their role in the conflict in the western Darfur region. "The Sudanese authorities should translate these words into action and immediately transfer al-Bashir and other individuals (facing ICC arrest warrants) to The Hague," Amnesty International acting secretary general Julie Verhaar said.

"Omar al-Bashir is wanted by the ICC over the murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape of hundreds of thousands of people during the conflict in Darfur. "A decision to hand him over to the court would be a welcome step towards justice for victims and their families."

The conflict in Darfur, a region the size of France, erupted in 2003 when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Bashir´s then Arab-dominated government, accusing it of economic and political marginalisation.

The ICC has charged Bashir with genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in the conflict. Bashir, who is detained in Sudan after being convicted of corruption, denies the allegations and evaded arrest for more than a decade, travelling overseas in open defiance of the ICC.