China wants case against Sudan leader suspended

China called for an International Criminal Court case against Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir to be suspended and said it was concerned about an arrest warrant issued for him.

"China expresses its regretfulness and worry over the arrest warrant for the Sudan president issued by the International Criminal Court," foreign ministry spokesman Qin Gang said.

Qin called on the UN Security Council to "respect calls by the African Union, Arab League and Non-Aligned Movement... and call on the International Criminal Court not to hear this case for the time being."

The tribunal issued a warrant Wednesday for the arrest of the 65-year-old Beshir "for his alleged responsibility for crimes committed in Darfur". It was the first-ever warrant for a sitting head of state.

The United Nations says up to 300,000 people have died since conflict broke out in Sudan's Darfur region in 2003, when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated regime for a greater share of resources and power.

A ceasefire has been agreed between the government and opposition groups but deadly clashes go on in the western region.

China is an ally of Beshir's government and relies on Sudan for oil imports.

It has consistently warned that such an arrest warrant could cause further trouble in the war-torn African country.

"China is opposed to any action that could interfere with the peaceful situation in Darfur and Sudan," he said in a statement on the foreign ministry's website.

"At the moment, the primary task of the international community is to preserve stability in the Darfur region."












March 4. REUTERS/Hannibal Hanschke


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