Africa
Sudan: Delay Arrest of Bashir - Kiir
By
Jul 23, 2008 - 4:46:43 PM

SOUTH Sudanese President Salva Kiir wants the International Criminal Court (ICC) to delay the indictment of Sudanese President Omar el Bashir until the Comprehensive Peace Agreement with the south has been implemented and a peaceful settlement in Darfur has been reached.

"There is no need rushing to take the Sudanese president to the ICC," he told journalists at State House Entebbe yesterday.

"The announcement has been made but we should have time to consult with the rest of Africa and the world. The Sudanese government should be allowed to implement the accord signed with the South Sudan government and to negotiate with the fighting forces in Darfur."

On the Juba talks, Kiir said the three countries, Uganda, South Sudan and Congo, had been consulting and were waiting for Joseph Kony to sign the final peace agreement.

"We have discussed what took Kony to the bush and it is being addressed. If he does not sign, that would be his decision. All we want is his signature on that paper."

Kiir, who arrived yesterday, met President Yoweri Museveni for one hour. Commenting on the meeting, Museveni said:

"We have had very fruitful discussions on the border security. We have discussed Kony and the LRA in the area, infrastructure and other elements of bilateral cooperation."

Responding to questions about the LRA, Museveni said the affected countries were waiting for a report from UN envoy Joaquim Chissano and South Sudan's Vice-President Riek Machar.

"We are waiting for the reports. If Kony does not want to come out, we shall find a solution. We want him to sign the final peace agreement and not fresh talks," Museveni said.

The two leaders declined to comment on whether the UPDF will withdraw from South Sudan as demanded by Riek Machar recently.

Relations between the two countries suffered a snag when Machar accused the UPDF of being responsible for a raid on Pageri in which one man was killed.

Although the UPDF was exonerated of the crime by the SPLA commanders on the ground, Machar went ahead to call for the withdrawal of UPDF so as to "avoid further mistakes". Earlier yesterday, Kiir toured Roofings, a company that manufactures building materials on Entebbe Road.

Source: New Vision (Uganda)