Arab foreign ministers started here on Wednesday afternoon an emergency meeting on the issue of an arrest warrant by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The ministers are expected to discuss the negative impact of the ICC decision on Sudan and the Arab stance on this issue.

The meeting, hours after the ICC made the decision, was held on the sidelines of a joint Arab-Southern American foreign ministers' conference which is in session at the headquarters of the Arab League.

On Wednesday, the ICC issued an arrest warrant against al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the country's restive western region of Darfur.

The genocide accusation, filed by the court's prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo, was not included in the final decision.

Earlier on Tuesday, President al-Bashir vowed that any decision to be issued by the ICC will not affect his country, saying "The Sudanese people do not care the decision."

On Wednesday, Egypt called on the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to suspend the enforcement of the ICC decision.

Egypt is greatly concerned about the negative impacts the ICC move might have on the security and stability of Sudan, Egyptian Foreign Minister Ahmed Abul Gheit was quoted by the official MENA news agency as saying.

At such a critical time of Sudan's history, the UN Security Council should shoulder its responsibilities to achieve peace in the country, Abul Gheit said.

The top Egyptian diplomat urged the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting to suspend the enforcement of the ICC decision, saying Sudan needs a comprehensive political solution to bring long-term justice.

Source:Xinhua