LOC21:23
18:23 GMT
DOHA, March 5 (KUNA) -- The State of Qatar voiced on Thursday "deep regret"
over the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for
Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir on Wednesday.
"The ICC arrest warrant is by no means conducive to security and stability
in Darfur region, west Sudan," Qatar News Agency (QNA) quoted a Foreign
Ministry official as saying.
"The move could only hamper the Qatari efforts aiming to stabilize the
troubled region in cooperation with the Arab League, the United Nations and
the African Union.
"The internationally-backed Qatari mediation has led to the signing of a
framework agreement by the Sudanese Government and the Justice and Equality
Movement (JEM) here in February," the official pointed out.
He called on the UN Security Council to exercise its powers and postpone
the implementation of the arrest warrant for one year pursuant to Article 16
of Rome Statute on the ICC establishment.
Such postponement could pave the way for the Qatari-brokered peace between
the Sudanese government and the factions of Darfur, the official added. (end)
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