Syria Today | Syria condemns ICC’s move against Sudan’s president

Syria condemns ICC’s move against Sudan’s president

President Bashar al-Assad rejected the International Criminal Court’s (ICC) move to arrest Sudan’s president on charges of war crimes and genocide in Darfur on July 22, saying it should be considered as an attempt to blackmail Sudan and interfere in its internal affairs.

Assad made the rejection while meeting with Sudanese presidential advisor Ghazi Salah El Din Atabani, who delivered Assad a message from Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on the latest developments regarding the court’s move.

“Such a court decision will hinder the efforts to establish peace in Darfur and will undermine any effort to boost stability in Sudan,” Assad told Syria’s official news agency SANA.

Assad said Syria, in its capacity as chairman of the Arab Summit, will do whatever is required to support Sudan from plots targeting its security and stability.

Assad’s comments follow a decision by the International Criminal Court prosecutor to seek an arrest warrant for Bashir on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

On July 17, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Mu’allem also denounced the charges via the state-run Tishreen newspaper.

“This procedure is a serious and unprecedented incident in the history of international relations and should not be allowed to be passed, particularly as it aims to destabilise the situation in Sudan and thwart attempts to establish peace in Darfur,” Mu’allem said.