African Union/Sudan

AU chief asks Omar al-Beshir to co-operate

Article published on the 2008-08-04 Latest update 2008-08-05 07:16 TU

Omar al-Beshir
(Photo: AFP )

The African Union on Monday urged Sudan to co-operate further with peace efforts in Darfur during talks in Khartoum. Attending the talks were  African Union chairman Jean Ping and Sudanese president Omar al-Beshir attended the talks in the Sudanese capital. The talks follow last month's request by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court for Beshir's arrest on charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity.

The AU said it would ask the United Nations Security Council to discuss a resolution "as soon as possible" that would delay ICC proceedings against the Sudanese president. 

The AU's commissioner for peace and security Ramtam Lammara told RFI that justice is not incompatible with peace, but in depends on the context.

"We do as the African Union uphold a principle of non-impunity. The question is how, when, under which circumstances we can safely consider that we serve, we render service to both justice and peace," he said.

 

Ministers from the Organisation of the Islamic Conference have also urged the UN Security Council to delay action against Sudan's President, describing the ICC's request as "unwarranted and unacceptable".

The OIC vowed to co-ordinate its efforts with the AU, the League of Arab States, the Non-Aligned Movement  and others to defuse what it called a "dangerous situation."

Speaking to African and Arab trade Unionists, President Beshir said on Sunday that national elections set for next year will be held on time.

"We shall also go on with the democratic process and start the elections on its date," Beshir said.