S Africa denies breaking rules by not arresting Sudan's Bashir
South Africa yesterday denied it had flouted international law by refusing in 2015 to arrest visiting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir wanted by war crimes judges on charges of genocide in Darfur.
At an unprecedented hearing at the International Criminal Court, Pretoria found itself fending off accusations that it had failed in its obligations to the very tribunal which it helped to found.
South African legal advisor Dire Tladi argued there "was no duty under international law on South Africa to arrest the serving head of a non-state party such as Mr Omar al-Bashir."
Despite two international arrest warrants issued in 2009 and 2010, Bashir remains at large and in office amid the raging conflict in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.
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