Sudan urged not to retaliate against aid workers

Published on Thursday 5 March 2009 14:22

SUDAN'S President Omar al-Bashir was today urged not to retaliate against aid workers following the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant against him for war crimes.

Commons Leader Harriet Harman said Sudan should co-operate with the ICC and urged President Bashir not to "escalate" the situation.

Aid organisations have warned that hundreds of thousands of lives are at risk after the Sudanese government forced them to suspend operations.

And President Bashir, accused of two counts of war crimes and five of crimes against humanity in Darfur, today told cheering supporters in Khartoum that he rejected the claims against him.

The issue was raised during questions on Commons business by Labour's David Drew, chair of the all-party Sudan group, who said the situation in the country was "parlous".

He called for a Commons debate, saying: "Already I have got notice that Save the Children are withdrawing all their aid workers and MSF Holland has been expelled in Darfur.

"This puts millions of people at risk. Would you consider an urgent debate to look at the ramifications for this troubled part of the world and how the British Government may still be able to help at this time."

Ms Harman said she would look for an opportunity for MPs to discuss the matter, adding: "It is important that Sudan co-operate with the International Criminal Court investigation, that they don't escalate the situation and certainly that they don't retaliate against the aid agencies that are doing very, very important work delivering for people who are under great threat in that country."

President Bashir is the first sitting head of state ordered arrested by the court since it started work in 2002.

The war in Sudan's western Darfur region began in 2003, when rebel ethnic African groups, complaining of discrimination and neglect, took up arms against the Arab-dominated government in Khartoum.

Up to 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million have fled their homes.