By Xinhua,
Cairo : The Interim Arab Parliament (IAP) on Monday criticized the plan of the International Criminal Court (ICC) to issue an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes in Darfur, the Egyptian official MENA news agency reported.
The IAP is “amazed and dismayed” by reports of the ICC move, which is stirring Arab nations’ concern, head of the parliament Mohamed Jassem al-Saqr said in a statement.
The ICC move raises the fear that the international court could become a tool of major world powers to intimidate smaller countries, al-Saqr was quoted as saying.
According to earlier reports, the ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo formally requested an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
Al-Saqr said it is a shame to see the ICC trying to prosecute a leader of an Arab country, urging the ICC prosecutor to reconsider the arrest bid against al-Bashir.
At the request of Sudan, the Cairo-based Arab League has agreed to hold an emergency foreign ministers’ meeting on July 19 to coordinate Arab stance on the disputes between Sudan and the ICC.