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Polity
Article by: Reuters
Published: 10 Apr 2008
Sudan's Bashir declines Security Council invite
Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has turned down an invitation to a meeting of the U.N. Security Council, where he had been expected to face pressure over the conflict in Darfur.Western countries accuse Bashir of dragging his feet in agreeing to the full deployment of 26,000 U.N.-African Union peacekeepers to Darfur.

The Security Council meeting was called for later this month by South Africa to improve cooperation between the council and regional groups. South Africa currently holds the Security Council's month-long presidency.

Bashir's press advisor, Mahjoub Fadul, told Reuters the president had informed Sudan's permanent representative to the United Nations that he would not be going to New York.

"He already has plans and it was short notice," Fadul said, adding that the foreign minister would represent Sudan.

Another government official told Reuters the invite was "more of a summons than an invite" so Bashir was unlikely to accept.

Other countries invited to the meeting include Sudan's neighbours Chad and the Central African Republic. Chad has accused Sudan of helping rebels trying to oust President Idriss Deby while Khartoum says Chad backs insurgents in Darfur.

Western diplomats said Bashir's presence at the U.N. headquarters in New York would have been likely to spark protests by non-governmental organizations monitoring the Darfur conflict.

Around 2.5 million people have fled their homes during the five year war in Sudan's western Darfur region. International experts estimate some 200,000 have died from famine, disease or fighting in Darfur.

Sudan says the Western press has exaggerated the conflict which they say has claimed 9,000 lives.

The International Criminal Court has indicted a Sudanese government minister and an allied militia leader for war crimes in Darfur but Bashir refuses to hand them over to the Hague-based court.

The ICC's chief prosecutor has said he will be investigating senior government officials suspected of atrocities in Darfur. Bashir is commander-in-chief of Sudan's Armed Forces.