UN pulls staff from Darfur after world court move on Beshir

The United Nations was pulling non-essential staff from Darfur on Tuesday as Islamist protesters rallied behind Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir over allegations he masterminded a campaign of genocide in the war-torn region.
Fears of a violent backlash have mounted since the International Criminal Court chief prosecutor on Monday sought an arrest warrant against Beshir on 10 counts of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.
The African Union-United Nations peacekeeping mission said it would be flying out non-essential staff to Ethiopia and Uganda, despite assurances from Sudan to protect peacekeepers and humanitarian workers in the country.
The first two minibuses carrying staff left UNAMID headquarters in El Fasher around midday (0900 GMT) en route to the local airport where they were expected to fly to Entebbe in Uganda, witnesses told AFP.
"It's not an evacuation. We're temporarily relocating staff, some non-essential staff," said Josephine Guerrero, spokeswoman for the UN-led peacekeeping mission, following months of deteriorating security in Darfur.
"UNAMID is not pulling out. All the forces are going to be on the ground and humanitarian operations are continuing," she added, referring to the UN-African Union military and police force, only a third of which has deployed.