The ICC has jurisdiction over genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes.

The ambassador said President al-Bashir has been discussing the peace process in Darfur with UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon, and as recently as last Saturday the two men talked about the possibility of action against the Sudanese leader.

Ban said in a statement on Monday that he respected Moreno- Ocampo's decision to seek an arrest warrant because the ICC is an independent court.

Ban called on the Sudanese government to cooperate with the joint UN-African Union peacekeeping operation in Sudan's Darfur region, which has been the target of attacks by armed militiamen allegedly with Khartoum's backing.

The joint UN-African Union peacekeeping operation in Darfur, known as UNAMID, said at its headquarters in El Fasher, in northern Darfur, that it intends to maintain its work of monitoring the peace process in the region despite Moreno-Ocampo's move.

But UNAMID said it planned to relocate nonessential staff "due to the recent deteriorating security situation across Darfur".

"We are working on all those issues in our mandate and we will continue to work on them," said UNAMID commander, Gen. Martin Luther Agwai.

He said security threats against the force will not halt its patrols and protection of UN personnel.

(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2008)