Rights Group Slams Malaysia for Inviting Sudanese President

Posted June 14th, 2011 at 2:05 am (UTC-5)
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Amnesty International is urging Malaysia to withdraw an invitation for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir to visit the country and to arrest him for crimes against humanity if he turns up.

In a statement Tuesday, the London-based rights group said Malaysia should not turn itself into “a port of call for fugitives from international justice.”

The International Criminal Court has issued warrants calling for the arrest of Mr. Bashir on charges of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in his country's western Darfur region. He is the first head of state to be targeted by an ICC warrant.

President Bashir is one of several African leaders expected in Malaysia for the Langkawi International Dialogue, a three-day conference opening Sunday where global poverty issues will be discussed.

Malaysia is not a member of the ICC but has expressed its intention to join.