Good stuff: International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Sudanese President

Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir, the first sitting ruler to face an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes, is a fiery and defiant professional soldier who seized power in a coup 20 years ago.

His rule of Africa's biggest country, torn apart by war for much of its half century of independence, has been marked by Islamist resurgence, conflict and peace with the south, collision with the West and bitter war in Darfur.

"As an individual, as a member of the Jaali tribe, as a military officer and as head of state, he is intensely proud," said Sudan analyst Alex de Waal.

"When he feels humiliated, he is prone to angry outbursts marked by extreme rhetorical excess. His language becomes replete with exhortations to avenge insult and betrayal, and crush the cowards and traitors."

On Wednesday, the ICC said the arrest warrant was being issued for five counts of crimes against humanity over the six-year conflict in Darfur: murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture, and rape, and two counts of war crimes: attacks against civilians and pillaging.

It did not announce a charge of genocide, as requested in July by ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo who had accused Beshir of masterminding a genocidal campaign to try to wipe out three ethnic groups.

Beshir has refused to cooperate with the ICC or surrender officials wanted for alleged war crimes over the conflict that the United Nations says has cost the lives of 300,000 people.

On the eve of Wednesday's announcement, he said the warrant would "not be worth the ink it is written in."

Beshir, 65, toppled a three-year-old democratically elected government in a bloodless coup on June 30, 1989, backed by the National Islamic Front party of his former mentor Hassan al-Turabi, who was arrested most recently in January.

He declared a nationwide state of emergency, suspended the constitution, dismissed parliament and disbanded all political parties.

LNK

Good stuff: International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Sudanese President

Good stuff: International Criminal Court issues arrest warrant for Sudanese President

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