Bashir warns foreigners to respect government or be expelled

KHARTOUM (Reuters) - Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir warned foreign organisations they would be expelled if they disrespected government authority, deepening a stand-off with U.N. peacekeepers over six Darfuris wanted by Khartoum.

The six are accused by Sudan of instigating clashes in South Darfur's Kalma Camp in late July which killed at least five people. They sought refuge with U.N.-African Union peacekeepers (UNAMID) who have refused to hand them over to Sudan without proof of their crime or guarantees of a fair trial.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and genocide during Darfur's seven-year conflict. A counter-insurgency campaign drove more than 2 million from their homes to miserable camps, sparking one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

The United Nations estimates it has claimed 300,000 lives.

"Any aid group or U.N. or AU agency, even UNAMID -- their mandate is to support government authorities," he told a gathering of Darfur leaders in Khartoum on Saturday. "I tell my brothers the governors of Darfur that anyone who exceeds these boundaries or their mandate can be expelled the same day."

"No one has the right to prevent the government from doing its job to protect civilians," he said. "The (Darfur) camps are Sudanese territory under Sudanese authority and there is no authority in this world which can stop the government from ... prosecuting criminals who break the law."

Kalma is home to 100,000 Darfuris who fled their homes during the rape, murder and looting by militia in Sudan's remote west. Sudan's government has had no presence in Kalma -- Darfur's most volatile camp -- for years because of hostile residents.

UNAMID said the five men and one woman wanted by authorities were either members or supporters of the Darfur rebel Sudan Liberation Army (SLA).

The case is seen as pivotal for the peacekeepers who were told by the U.N. Security council to focus on protecting civilians last week.

The government has prevented international aid agencies from entering the camp, the United Nations said.

Mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in Darfur accusing Khartoum of neglect. Sudan blames the Western media for exaggerating the conflict and the death toll which it puts at 10,000.