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African leaders in Libya were on Friday hotly debating a draft resolution by the African Union (AU) which will, if adopted, deal a major blow to the efforts of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to prosecute war criminals in Africa.
The surprise draft was circulated on Thursday by Libya, the host country of the 13th AU summit, and by that evening, AU Foreign Ministers had moved to endorse the draft that will see the AU boycott the ICC.
The draft declares that the AU 'deeply regrets' that the United Nations ignored its previous demand for the ICC in The Hague to postpone its arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, for crimes in Darfur. In consequence, the draft decision provides that AU countries 'shall not cooperate' with the ICC 'for the arrest and surrender of African indicted personalities', including al-Bashir.
The warrant against al-Bashir was issued in March on charges of masterminding the violence that led to the deaths of an estimated 300 000 people in Darfur since 2003. African signatories to the ICC are meant to hand al-Bashir over to the ICC for prosecution in The Hague, if he visits their countries.
But support for the Sudanese leader has been growing and Libya was one of the first countries to ignore the ICC and host him as a visiting head of state. Zimbabwe also welcomed al-Bashir with open arms at the Comesa summit last month, where the grouping called for the international criminal charges against him to be dropped.
The draft decision against the ICC has contradicted assurances by the AU's executive chairman, Jean Ping, that the African Union would not reach hard decisions against the ICC. Ping had said Wednesday that the AU would not reach 'dramatic or binding conclusions' for African countries that are party to the ICC.
"This is an insult to the 30 AU states member to the ICC, it basically orders them to flout their legal obligations," said Reed Brody, a spokesman for Human Rights Watch said on Thursday.
At the same time, human rights lawyer Gabriel Shumba told SW Radio Africa on Friday the precedent being set for Africa is a deeply troubling one, explaining that "the message this move sends out is that African leaders cannot be trusted."
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Alex Bell continues to write in her own anglo whiteness. However, the Libyan proposal is the right to one! Africa warned and told the ICC to postphoned thier indicating of Bashir, alas these non-elected judges at ICC decided to go ahead anyway because they are westerners! That decision to go ahead in indicatement was wrong and caused untold suffering and a pullout by aid organizations. I too am a strong defender of human rights, but the ICC has became a bully towards Africa.
Why not indicate George W. Bush, whose gov't caused the death of over a million people, most innocent. Now that we do know that Saddam did not have mass weapons of destruction, I challenge the ICC to bring former President Bush to court. That would set a better example. And how how about former British Prime Minister Blair? Another idiot, who lied to the UN about weapons of mass destruction. AU must look out for their own interests!!
Phiri I agree with you on the indictment of Bush, he is a candidate for the ICC and is no longer a sitting president, so it should be a lot easier to arrest him for the millions of innocent people butchered in Iraq, and you mentioned another culprit who is no longer a sitting head of State, that Blair. There is evidence they lied to the international community about weapons of mass destruction and even acted against the UN. Obama is doing the same and he should know he is another candidate for ICC. So if it wants credibility back, they should move in and try Bush and Blair, then the rest of the internaional community will respect them and see that they are not trying to police the east and the south.
TD.
A couple of points. Bush did not kill millions in Iraq. The great majority of deaths was as a result of sectarian violence and suicide killings by al-qaeda. You seem to keep pretty quiet about these. ARe you Al-Qaeda? For the record, it was Bush who was trying to prevent these deaths by keeping his troops there.
Secondly, Obama has actually been withdrawing the troops from Iraq, if you hadnt noticed.
I suggest you begin to educate yourself before making such rediculous points.
Are you not embarassed to defend Bush for lying to the whole world, went against UN resolutions and used bombs to kill innocent people. You will do anything to defend these Western leaders for the atrocities, even if its a shame. Bush, Blair and of late Obama are prime candidates for the ICC in addition to some of the African leaders but do not expose you bias by defending these war mongers.
I'm not defending Bush's actions in iraq, but you grossly over exagerate them by stating that Bush is responsible for over a million deaths.... are you Al Qaeda? You didnt answer my question. You seem to not be concerned by the innocents murdered by these cowards, when al qaeda is by far the most responsible for the deaths of innocents in Iraq.
As for Obama.. he's actually taken the troops out of Iraq! Idiot!
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