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International Criminal Court names Sudan official in Darfur war crimes case
The Associated Press
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: News
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - The International Criminal Court's prosecutor on Tuesday linked Sudan's government to atrocities in Darfur, naming a minister close to the president as a war crimes suspect who helped recruit, arm and bankroll the murderous desert fighters known as the janjaweed.
Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo made the allegations against Ahmed Muhammed Harun, now junior minister for humanitarian affairs and formerly junior interior minister for the western region of Darfur. The prosecutor also named Ali Mohammed Ali Abd-al-Rahman, saying he was a janjaweed militia leader known as Ali Kushayb.
A 94-page prosecution document said the two are suspected of a total of 51 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Moreno-Ocampo said. All but 10 of the 51 counts name both men.
While the prosecution document is not an indictment, it does say there are reasonable grounds to believe the two "bear criminal responsibility" for offenses including murder, rape, torture and persecution.
They were the court's first accusations against individuals for war crimes in the 4-year-old Darfur conflict which has claimed more than 200,000 lives and displaced 2.5 million people in a vast humanitarian disaster.
Human rights groups welcomed the move but urged action against more senior figures.
"Officials at the highest levels of the Sudanese government are responsible for widespread and systematic abuses in Darfur," said Richard Dicker of New York-based Human Rights Watch.
"While the individuals identified today are important, the ICC prosecutor should move up the chain of command to target those senior Sudanese government and military officials responsible for the most serious crimes in Darfur," he added.
The announcement for the first time unveiled details of a 21-month investigation into Darfur. Moreno-Ocampo indicated more allegations could be levied, and could take in violence spilling over into Chad and the Central African Republic.
Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo made the allegations against Ahmed Muhammed Harun, now junior minister for humanitarian affairs and formerly junior interior minister for the western region of Darfur. The prosecutor also named Ali Mohammed Ali Abd-al-Rahman, saying he was a janjaweed militia leader known as Ali Kushayb.
A 94-page prosecution document said the two are suspected of a total of 51 counts of war crimes and crimes against humanity, Moreno-Ocampo said. All but 10 of the 51 counts name both men.
While the prosecution document is not an indictment, it does say there are reasonable grounds to believe the two "bear criminal responsibility" for offenses including murder, rape, torture and persecution.
They were the court's first accusations against individuals for war crimes in the 4-year-old Darfur conflict which has claimed more than 200,000 lives and displaced 2.5 million people in a vast humanitarian disaster.
Human rights groups welcomed the move but urged action against more senior figures.
"Officials at the highest levels of the Sudanese government are responsible for widespread and systematic abuses in Darfur," said Richard Dicker of New York-based Human Rights Watch.
"While the individuals identified today are important, the ICC prosecutor should move up the chain of command to target those senior Sudanese government and military officials responsible for the most serious crimes in Darfur," he added.
The announcement for the first time unveiled details of a 21-month investigation into Darfur. Moreno-Ocampo indicated more allegations could be levied, and could take in violence spilling over into Chad and the Central African Republic.
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