Sudan: Prosecutor Accuses Darfur Rebels of War Crimes

20 November 2008
allAfrica.com

The International Criminal Court (ICC), which is already considering charges against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arising out of the war in Darfur, has now been asked to examine evidence that Darfur rebel commanders have committed war crimes.

The ICC's prosecutor, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, announced on Thursday  that he was presenting evidence to judges relating to an attack on an African Union base in September 2007 in which 12 peacekeepers were killed.

Moreno-Ocampo said 1,000 Darfur rebels had surrounded and attacked the Haskanita camp in North Darfur.

There were reasonable grounds to believe, he said, that rebel commanders "bear criminal responsibility in relation to three counts of alleged war crimes for murder, intentionally directing attacks against personnel and objects involved in a peacekeeping mission and pillaging."

Such acts constituted war crimes under the Rome Statute, which set up the ICC, Moreno-Ocampo said. “I will not let such attacks go unpunished”, he added.

In July this year, Moreno-Ocampo accused Bashir of genocide and war crimes.

The ICC is still considering his request for an arrest warrant.

Tagged:
Copyright © 2008 allAfrica.com. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections — or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.