Sudanese President's likely indictment sparks off protests

KHARTOUM  - Sudan vowed on Sunday to guarantee foreigners' safety as around 1,000 protesters slammed the United States and International Criminal Court for an expected indictment of their head of state.

President Omar al-Beshir presided over a crisis cabinet meeting for two and a half hours in a bid to close ranks before the chief ICC prosecutor is on Monday (today) widely expected to name the Sudanese ruler a war crimes suspect.

Ministers rejected any move by the court to prosecute Sudanese leaders for alleged war crimes in Darfur, said state media.

"As for those who are here in the different diplomatic organisations, we don't think they are going to be under any pressure from the Sudanese citizens. Everything will be secure," said Information Minister Al-Zahawi Malek.

"Their lives and possessions and all these things are secure. The Sudanese people are very friendly indeed," he added when asked if Sudan could guarantee it would not ask UN officials or foreign diplomats to leave.

"We have this ICC resolution but we don't connect it. Everyone here, while they are in Sudan, will be safe," he said.

Western embassies have advised nationals to limit unnecessary travel and the United Nations has stepped up its security levels amid fears that the ICC's move to charge the sitting head of state could spark violent retaliation.

Western officials fear Sudan could expel members of the UN-led peacekeeping mission in Darfur or aid groups.

Contingency plans have been made for an evacuation and non-essential staff have been told to stay at home on Monday.

After the cabinet meeting, the Information Minister said that Sudan was thinking over what steps to take once a clear decision was announced in The Hague.

He said the cabinet agreed to respond with "legal steps" and to keep the Sudanese public fully abreast of the developments.

Around 1,000 demonstrators rallied in Khartoum outside the Council of Ministers before the crisis government meeting, angrily denouncing the anticipated charges at the government-sponsored protest.

Chanting: "Down, down USA" as well as Islamic slogans and brandishing banners reading: "Khartoum condemns Ocampo accusation" and "You are joking, Ocampo," in reference to ICC chief prosecutor Luis Morno-Ocampo.

Traffic was jammed during the protest which one demonstrator on the sidelines said was instigated by calls on radio and television to support the president, who seized power in an Islamist-backed bloodless coup 19 years ago.

Sudanese officials have been locked in emergency talks for days, requested an Arab League crisis meeting and summoned ambassadors to warn that the government will make a political response to any ICC move on its top members.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Ali al-Sadiq said the authorities were stepping up security, particularly around the British, French and US embassies in Khartoum, and predicted "chaos" following any indictment of the president.

The Information Minister on Sunday alluded to the travel ban - which would accompany any formal arrest warrant of Beshir - in preventing the president from pressing foreign diplomacy and other peace efforts outside Sudan.

Sudan refuses to recognise the ICC or arrest warrants issued for Secretary of State for Humanitarian Affairs Ahmed Haroun and Arab militia leader Ali Kosheib. It says it has established its own court to try Darfur cases.

"Whatever the diplomatic battle, we are going to do it within the United Nations," said the Foreign Ministry spokesman.

"We are going to work hard with our friends and peace-loving members of the Security Council to avert whatever might result from the ICC announcement."

The African Union, which has far warmer relations with Sudan than the United Nations, on Saturday warned that ICC plans to prosecute government officials could jeopardise peace efforts in Darfur.