'Co-operation with Sudan key'

2009-07-10 11:57

Oslo - The US special envoy to Sudan on Thursday stressed the need for co-operation with the country's leadership after a prosecutor said there was enough evidence for a further arrest warrant against Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir for genocide.

"Right now President al-Bashir is the president of the country and we have to work with him to solve those issues that are facing the people (of Sudan) and (that) are facing the region," said Scott Gration.

"But that does not mean that (Bashir) does not need to do what's right in terms of facing the International Criminal Court and those charges," he said.

ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo argued on Tuesday he had enough evidence for a further arrest warrant against Bashir for genocide.

Bashir already faces an ICC arrest warrant for war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Gration said Bashir would face the court "when the situation is right".

Humanity and genocide

"We in the United States believe that everybody needs to be accountable, and in due time, when the situation is right, the international community will hold (accountable) folks that may have been involved in crimes against humanity and genocide," he said.

Asked whether the announcement would complicate his dealings with Sudan, Gration said: "We will work through it".

Gration made the comments during an official visit to the Norwegian capital, where he will on Friday meet senior government officials from Britain and Norway to co-ordinate the countries' positions towards Sudan.

The US, Britain and Norway form a troika of nations closely following Sudan-related issues, including the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement that ended the war between north and south Sudan.

Gration on Thursday met Norwegian foreign minister Jonas Gahr Stoere.

Gration will travel to Sudan on Tuesday 14 July. He is not expected to meet the president.

- AFP