.Al Bashir

By BENNET SIMBEYE – in  JOHANNESBURG, SA

A SOUTH African judge has ordered that Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir should not leave the country until an application by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to have him arrested is considered.
According to local media, Pretoria High Court Judge Hans Fabricius granted the Southern African Litigation Centre a temporary order to prevent President Al-Bashir from leaving South Africa until his case to have him arrested has been heard.
Mr Al-Bashir is in South Africa to attend the African Union (AU) summit taking place in Sandton.
Mr Justice Hans Fabricius postponed his ruling until 11:30 hours today on whether the Sudanese President should be arrested.
The application had been brought by the SALC on behalf of a group of human rights organisations.
There are about nine respondents, including the Home Affairs Department.
The South African government is opposing the urgent application by the Southern African Litigation Centre, citing South Africa’s obligations as a member of the ICC.
However, the government earlier promised all African leaders immunity to attend the summit.
Mr Justice Hans Fabricius said according to the order, President Al-Bashir was prohibited from leaving the country until he handed down his final ruling.
“The following order is made to President Omar Al-Bashir of Sudan, he is prohibited from leaving the Republic of South Africa until the final order is made in this application and the respondents are directed to take all necessary steps to prevent him from doing so,” he said.
The ICC has two outstanding warrants against Mr Al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity.