ICC seeks Sudan defence minister arrest over Darfur

LONDON. December 2. KAZINFORM The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor has requested an arrest warrant for Sudan's defence minister for alleged crimes in Darfur.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo said Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein was suspected of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in 2003-04, BBC News reports.

At the time, Mr Hussein was Sudan's representative in its western region.

The Hague-based ICC has already indicted Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir on genocide charges in Darfur.

The request was made by Mr Moreno-Ocampo's office in a statement on Friday.

It asked the ICC "to issue an arrest warrant against the current Sudanese Defence Minister Abdelrahim Mohamed Hussein for crimes against humanity and war crimes committed in Darfur from August 2003 to March 2004".

The statement added that Mr Hussein was among those who "bear greatest criminal responsibility" for atrocities in Darfur.

Mr Hussein at the time was also serving as Sudan's interior minister.

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