Kenya to contest Bashir arrest warrant

Tue Nov 29, 2011 6:36PM GMT

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Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir

Kenya's Foreign Ministry says the government will contest an arrest warrant issued by a domestic court for Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir.

"Since our judicial system provides for right of appeal, we shall carefully look at the judgment with a view to requesting the attorney general to expeditiously prefer an appeal in the matter," Foreign Minister Moses Wetangula said on Tuesday.

On Monday, a Kenyan judge issued a warrant for Bashir after the government failed to arrest him during his visit to Nairobi last August, AFP reported.

After the move, Sudan ordered Kenya's ambassador to leave the country within 72 hours and ordered its ambassador to leave Nairobi.

The Sudanese leader is wanted by the International Criminal Court over alleged crimes against humanity.

According to UN estimates, 300,000 people have died in Darfur since 2003, when conflict began between ethnic Africans and the government of Sudan.

President Bashir says the accusation is part of what he calls a Western conspiracy.

AGB/JR/IS