OIC warns of grave ramifications

JEDDAH  - The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Sunday expressed "deep concern" at reports International Criminal Court prosecutors would seek the arrest of Sudan President Omar al-Beshir.

OIC Secretary-General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu warned of "grave ramifications" that might arise out of the move, which, he said, "could seriously threaten the fragile peace in Darfur," an OIC statement said. Ihsanoglu also expressed his surprise that the ICC, "which has on different occasions opted for silence on atrocities perpetrated in various parts of the world ... found it now fit to bring up such a controversial issue that might jeopardize the quest for peace in Sudan and the region," the statement said.

"This approach amounts to double standards and will not be conducive to enhance the efforts aiming at healing and reconciliation in the region," it said. "Such an approach could also lead to the politicisation of issues of a purely legal character."

Ihsanoglu said the 57-member OIC, the world's largest forum of Islamic nations, "condemns all acts committed in impunity and strongly favours the search for justice in a manner that does not escalate the threat of instability in any region of the world."