Sudan agrees to try Darfur rights violators at home

By Cynthia Johnston

CAIRO (Reuters) - Sudan has agreed to try anyone it suspects of crimes in Darfur in Sudanese courts and will allow the United Nations, African Union and Arab League to follow the proceedings, an Arab League official said on Tuesday.

The move appeared aimed am defusing a crisis over a decision by the International Criminal Court prosecutor to seek an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.

But it would be up to Sudan to decide who to try, and Arab League official Hesham Youssef could not say if two Sudanese officials indicted by the ICC last year would face charges.

The crisis over the possible indictment has raised fears for the fragile peace process in Africa's biggest state.

"Sudan will be continuing its consideration of the violations of human rights and the crimes committed in Darfur," Youssef, chief of staff for Arab League Secretary-General Amr Moussa, told Reuters.

"Those who are accused would stand to be tried within this judiciary system," he added. "The individuals that will be facing trial would depend on the investigations that are conducted by the government."

The announcement came after Moussa traveled to Khartoum for talks with Sudanese officials over the ICC move following an emergency meeting of Arab League foreign ministers on Saturday.

Mostly non-Arab Darfur rebels took up arms in early 2003 accusing the central government of neglect. Khartoum mobilized mostly Arab militia to quell the revolt who now stand accused of atrocities including widespread rape, murder and looting.

The ICC accuses Bashir of orchestrating a genocide that has killed 35,000 people outright, at least another 100,000 through slow death, and forced 2.5 million from their homes.

Bashir is due to travel to Darfur on Wednesday for a two-day visit, his first trip to the region since the ICC move.

SPECIAL COURTS, PROSECUTOR POSSIBLE

Youssef said Sudan had also agreed to possibly form special courts on Darfur or to appoint a special prosecutor to more effectively address the Darfur troubles.

Sudan had previously formed special courts following a 2005 U.N. Security Council resolution referring Darfur to the ICC, but those trials fizzled out.

Youssef said Khartoum had further agreed to allow the United Nations, African Union and Arab League to follow any proceedings to "ensure the legal system in Sudan is comprehensive".

"It was agreed that priority would be given to the political resolution of the situation in Darfur as well as the achievement of justice and the establishment of rule of law," Youssef said.