ICC Prosecutor: Bashir Still Committing Crimes in Darfur

Posted June 8th, 2011 at 1:05 pm (UTC-5)
Leave a comment

The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor says Sudan's government continues to commit genocide and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

In comments Wednesday to the U.N. Security Council, Luis Moreno-Ocampo said the Sudanese Armed Forces continue to carry out aerial attacks and killings aimed at ethnic groups believed to support Darfur rebels.

Similar assertions came earlier this week from Human Rights Watch, which said abuses in Darfur have increased in recent months while the world's attention was focused on south Sudan's coming independence.

The ICC indicted Sudan President Omar al-Bashir in 2009 on charges of masterminding a campaign of murder, rape, and other crimes in Darfur.

Mr. Bashir has avoided arrest by traveling only to countries that will not hand him to the ICC.

Rebels in Darfur took up arms against the Bashir government in 2003. The U.N. says more than 300,000 people have been killed in the conflict, and 2.7 million others displaced.