World court says still to decide on Sudan's Bashir

By Aaron Gray-Block

AMSTERDAM (Reuters) - The International Criminal Court said on Thursday it is still to decide whether to issue an arrest warrant for Sudan's president and Khartoum pressed ahead with diplomatic efforts to postpone such a move.

United Nations diplomats and officials told Reuters on Wednesday the global court's judges had already decided to issue an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who is accused by the prosecutor of orchestrating genocide in Darfur.

"The judges are considering their decision and when we have something to announce we will announce it in the usual way," ICC spokeswoman Laurence Blairon said.

Bashir is the most senior figure pursued by the court since it was set up in 2002 and a decision from judges on the request for an arrest warrant is expected to be made public this month.

Sudan rejects the accusations made by chief prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo last July and says Bashir would never be handed over to the Hague-based court.

Sudan's foreign ministry said it was awaiting the announcement of the court on whether Bashir would be indicted. Sudan has been trying to head off a possible indictment with the help of its allies.

"The African Union and Arab League delegations are still working. China and Russia are also working with us. It is too early to talk about the results of this pressure ... We will react when the decision comes," said Ali al-Sadig, spokesman for Sudan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

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