Arrest ruling on Bashir next week

President Omar al-Bashir (22/02/2009)
Mr Bashir says claims about the Darfur crisis are exaggerated

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has said it will rule on 4 March whether to issue an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The judges will decide whether Mr Bashir is to face charges of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity committed in Darfur province.

Mr Bashir is the most senior figure pursued by the court in The Hague since it was set up in 2002.

The president rejects the charges and refuses to deal with the ICC.

The chief prosecutor at the court, Luis Moreno-Ocampo, requested an international arrest warrant last July, making Mr Bashir the first head of state accused of war crimes by an international court while in office.

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