Libyan minister: AU countries will leave ICC

From Radio Netherlands Tuesday 03 March 2009:
Libyan minister: AU countries will leave ICC

Libya's African Affairs Minister Abdul Salam al-Tereyki has told reporters in the Sudanese capital Khartoum that the members of the African Union (AU) would withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague if it issues an arrest warrant against Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir. Mr al-Tereyki is also the AU envoy for Sudan.

However, the newspaper Sudan Tribune also reports that "Last month the head of the State Parties to the Rome Statute of the ICC, Liechtenstein's Christian Wenaweser, said he was not aware of any move by African countries to revoke their membership at the ICC."

The Chief Prosecutor of the ICC, Luis Moreno Ocampo, wants to prosecute the Sudanese president for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. On Wednesday, it will be announced whether an arrest warrant for Mr al-Bashir will be issued.