Latest News:  

English>>World

Nigeria blasts critics over Al-Bashir's visit

(Xinhua)

08:30, July 17, 2013

ABUJA, July 16 (Xinhua) -- Nigeria on Tuesday rebuffed critics for focusing on the international arrest warrant on Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir instead of the objectives of the special African Union summit on HIV and AIDS.

The Foreign Affairs Ministry defended Nigeria's inaction to arrest the Sudanese leader during his visit to Abuja from July 14 to July 19 for the AU Summit on HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria.

The ministry's statement said Nigeria's decision not to cooperate with the court on the issue stemmed from a position taken by the AU in 2009.

"President Al-Bashir was in Nigeria under the auspices of the AU, based on the Assembly's decision to convene the Special Summit in Abuja to deal with three diseases that together constitute a heavy burden on member states," the statement said.

"Any attempt to make an issue out of the attendance of President Al-Bashir at the AU Summit will only amount to unnecessary shift from the important objectives of the special summit," it added.

"It is, therefore, a matter between the African Union and the international community," the ministry statement said.

The International Criminal Court (ICC), Britain, the European Union (EU) have expressed concerns over Nigeria's hosting Al- Bashir and failure to arrest and surrender him to the court.

Tina Intelmann, president of the Assembly of States Parties to the ICC, sent a letter Tuesday to Nigerian Foreign Minister Olugbenga Ashiru, reminding the West Africa country of its commitment as a State Party to the Rome Statute, to cooperate with the court.

Al-Bashir is wanted by ICC on charges of alleged crimes against humanity, war crimes and genocide, charges he has repeatedly denied.

We Recommend:

Dachshunds attend annual Wiener Dog Racing

Collective gay wedding held in Mexico City

Best photos of week (July 8 - July 14)

'Temple Collection' on display in India

Bastille Day military parade held in Paris

Indian new recruits attend passiong out parade

Anti-government protest held in Thailand

Mexico's Popocatepetl Volcano spews ashes

Egypt unrest continues in Cairo

Email|Print|Comments(Editor:LiangJun、Zhang Qian)

Leave your comment0 comments

  1. Name

  

Selections for you


  1. "Peace Ark" provides medical treatment

  2. Exchange between the PLAN and the CTF-465

  3. Protest held to demand release of prisoners

  4. Rape victim's mother wins labor camp lawsuit

  5. A glimpse of residents' daily life in China's Sansha city

  6. Sea foods, a luxury bite in summer

  7. Rare painted bronze ware excavated

  8. Angelababy covers BAZAAR

  9. Migrant workes' high incomes not that rosy

  10. China's GDP totals 24.8 tln yuan in H1

Most Popular

Opinions

  1. Slower economic growth set to be a winning choice
  2. Investing abroad not easy: Experts
  3. Reinvigorated CCTV gala brings hope for art scene
  4. China's anti-dumping probe is not retaliatory
  5. China's economic growth slows to steadier pace
  6. Washington must overhaul bipolar way of thinking
  7. Why the customer remains the king
  8. Going mobile is the key to business success
  9. Drone strikes only serve to help anti-Americanism
  10. State must control capital: Justin Yifu Lin

What’s happening in China

College student car models show youthful vigor

  1. Ministry urges tightened supervision of pollution
  2. Oil spill pollutes river in NW China
  3. White collars, the unemployed top suicide risk
  4. After the crash, a fight for Asiana compensation
  5. S China busts huge pyramid scheme ring