The United States will monitor the situation as an International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor is seeking the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes, including genocide, in Darfur, the White House said on Monday.
"We urge all sides to remain calm. We will monitor the situation in The Hague and review what the prosecutor has requested, but we are not a part of the ICC," said U.S. National Security Council spokesman Gordon Johndroe.
"Sudan needs to stop the violence committed against its people, allow aid workers and the AU/UN peacekeeping force to do its job and to comply with UN Security Council resolutions," he said.
ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo accused al-Beshir on Monday of being responsible for "masterminding a genocidal campaign to wipe out three ethnic groups."
"Al-Bashir masterminded and implemented a plan to destroy in substantial part the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa groups, on account of their ethnicity," the prosecutor claimed in The Hague, adding members of the three groups were historically influential in Darfur and engaged in a rebellion for fear of marginalization.
Sudan's Cabinet reiterated on Sunday that it does not recognize the ICC and will refuse any decision or memorandum delivered by the court.
State Department spokesman Sean McCormack said Friday that the United States does not have anything to do with the ICC.
Five years ago, infighting in Darfur flared up after rebels took up arms against the Sudanese government, accusing it of marginalizing the arid region. A humanitarian crisis emerged in the western Sudanese region after years of conflict.
Western powers, particularly the United States, have been ratcheting up pressure and imposed sanctions against Khartoum over the Darfur issue.
Source:Xinhua
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