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African statesman condemns
Bashir arrest warrant
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ADDIS
ABEBA(July 19 - 20,2008) - Former
Algerian president Ahmed Ben Bella on Thursday condemned the International
Criminal Court's (ICC) indictment of Sudan's President Omar Hassan
al-Bashir for genocide as a dangerous measure.
"The announcement made on 14 July by the prosecutor of the International
Criminal Court against an African head of state is one of these abuses
... that carry so many dangers," Ben Bella said in a statement
released in Addis Ababa.
The Algerian independence hero was in Ethiopia to chair a meeting
of the African Union's (AU) 'Panel of the Wise' which groups five
senior former officials from around the region.
"If we are not careful enough, it would be an instrument of unconstitutional
change of government and (may) lead the way for an external interference,"
Ben Bella said of the ICC prosecutor's move against Bashir over the
Darfur conflict.
"While being perfectly aware of our commitment and our attachment
to fight impunity ... we express our deep concern about the threat
to the process of peaceful settlement of the Darfur crisis,"
said the Algerian independence leader, who was overthrown in a 1965
coup.
The indictment against Bashir has divided international opinion, with
many cheering it as a blow against injustice but others warning it
could worsen the dire conflict in the western Sudanese region.
"We are called upon as Africans to promote the spirit of dialogue,
understanding and reconciliation between the parties. This is the
sole means for Africa to succeed in controlling its problems and at
the same time guarding against external interference," Ben Bella
said.
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