Jordan seeks to deal with ICC decision on Sudanese president saga

AMMAN, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- Jordan said Monday that it was looking into all legal and political options to deal with a decision by the International Criminal Court (ICC) to refer the kingdom to the UN Security Council for not arresting Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir when he visited Jordan early this year, the state-run Petra news agency reported.

In March 2017, al-Bashir was invited by Jordan to attend the 28th Arab Summit, an annual gathering of Arab leaders that was held at the eastern shores of the Dead Sea in Jordan. Jordan then announced its abidance of the Arab Charter regarding the attendance of the meeting.

The ICC ruled Monday that Jordan failed to comply with its obligations under Rome Statute by not executing the court's request for the arrest of al-Bashir and his surrender to the court while he was on Jordanian territory on March 29, 2017.

Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mohammad Kayed said that the Jordanian government was studying the decision and that it did not take into account the immunity given to presidents.

The decision was discriminating against Jordan, Kayed said, adding that it had legal loopholes.

Al-Bashir is accused by ICC prosecutors of five counts of crimes against humanity including murder, extermination, forcible transfer, torture and rape, as well as two counts of war crimes for attacking civilians and pillaging. He faces three counts of genocide allegedly committed against the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa ethnic groups in Darfur, Sudan, from 2003 to 2008. Enditem