The Sudanese government reiterated on Thursday its refusal of handing over two suspects accused of war crimes in the western Sudanese region of Darfur to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
 
"The government will not allow any Sudanese citizen to be tried outside the country," Sudanese Minister of Justice Mohammed Ali al-Mardi told reporters.

He denied that the Sudanese government had received any request from the ICC on the extradition of Ahmed Haroun and Ali Kushayb to the international court.

Ahmed Haroun, the state minister for humanitarian affairs, and Ali Kushayb, a militia commander in Darfur, were accused in February by the ICC of committing war crimes, and warrants were issued for them in April.

"We do not recognize the International Criminal Court. This position is fixed and we will not make any compromise on it," the justice minister said.

On the possibility that the two suspects would be arrested by the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), al-Mardi said any action of arresting a Sudanese citizen with incorrect procedures would be regarded as kidnap or abduction.

Sudan has not ratified the Rome Convention on the establishment of the ICC.

(Xinhua News Agency June 8, 2007)