OIC countries on Monday said the move by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to indict Sudanese President Omar Hassan Al-Bashir and other senior Sudanese officials was “unwarranted and unacceptable.” A communiqué issued at the end of an emergency ministerial meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) held here said the ICC's move could seriously undermine ongoing efforts for early resolution of the Darfur conflict, leading to greater destabilization for Sudan and the entire region. Expressing full solidarity with Al-Bashir, the OIC appealed to all parties and stakeholders involved to recommit themselves to reviving the Darfur peace process and to dealing constructively with various initiatives towards this end. The ministers urged all sections of the international community to respect the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Sudan and sought non-interference in its internal affairs. OIC Secretary General Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu was not present at the meeting but his statement read out to the ministers warned of grave ramifications, notably the politicization of a purely legal issue, that might arise from the ICC action. He said the situation in Sudan now “demands actions towards healing and reconciliation, and not accusations.”
