(4 Mar 2009) HEADLINE: Arrest warrant issued for Sudan's President
CAPTION: The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. (March 4)
[Notes:ANCHOR VOICE]
[Notes:APTN: Sept 2006 Omar Al-Bashir at a press conference]
In a historic move, the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudan's president.
[Notes:APTN: Gereida, southern Darfur - 7 May 2006]
President Omar al-Bashir faces charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
[Notes:aptn file: Wide shot of Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir]
He's the first sitting head of state the court has ordered arrested.
[Notes:aptn: ap clients only]
SOT: "Omar al-Bashir is suspected of being criminally responsible as an indirect co-perpetrator, or in the alternative, as an indirect perpetrator for intentionally directing attacks against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur, Sudan, murdering, exterminating, raping, torturing and forcibly transferring large numbers of civilians and pillaging their property."
Laurence Blairon, International Criminal Court spokeswoman
[Notes:aptn: ap clients only]
The three-judge panel said there wasn't enough evidence to support charges of genocide.
[Notes:APTN: Gereida, southern Darfur - 7 May 2006]
Up to 300-thousand people have been killed in the violence there.
And more than 2-and-a-half million others have fled their homes.
[Notes:aptn: ap clients only]
SOT: "Genocide is very hard to prove. You have to show that there was a specific intent to destroy an ethnic group and the crimes that are in there (the indictment) are just as serious.
Reed Brody/ Human Rights Watch
[Notes:aptn: ap clients only]
There was a mixed reaction as news of the arrest warrant spread.
A small group of protesters outside the ICC in the Hague demanded that the leader be tried for his alleged crimes committed in Darfur.
NATS UP
But in sudan, hundreds of Sudanese denounced the court's decision.
[Notes:pool: gibbs wh briefing]
The White House declined to comment on whether President Obama supports the warrant.
But the Obama administration said that anyone who has committed atrocities should be held accountable.
[Notes:ap photo/graphic]
APTN STORY NUMBER: 597883
Find out more about AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
Twitter: [ Ссылка ]
Facebook: [ Ссылка ]
Instagram: [ Ссылка ]
You can license this story through AP Archive: [ Ссылка ]
