Sudanese president visits post-Gadhafi Libya

By the CNN Wire Staff

January 7, 2012 -- Updated 1550 GMT (2350 HKT)

Libya's NTC chief Mustafa Abdel Jalil (R) and Omar al-Bashir (L) during a welcoming ceremony in Tripoli on January 07.

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

• NEW: Rights group official criticizes Sudanese leader's visit
• Omar Al-Bashir arrived in Libya Saturday morning
• The Libyans will not turn him over to the International Criminal Court
• He will discuss a number of issues with the Libyan government

(CNN) -- Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir, wanted for crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court, arrived in Libya Saturday to visit with the country's post-Gadhafi leaders.

Libya's National Transitional Council will use the one-day visit by al-Bashir to discuss "unsettled matters" between the two countries, NTC member Mohammed al-Sayeh told CNN.

During the uprising in Libya, Moammar Gadhafi hired mercenaries who came from the Darfur area in Sudan to the Libyan border, al-Sayeh said. As the conflict tilted in favor of the rebels, al-Bashir tried to stop mercenaries from coming through and gave the Libyan rebels some guns and tanks, he said.

There is also the issue of illegal immigration from Sudan into Libya through the country's southern border, al-Sayeh said.

"We had a lot of unsettled matters that we had to discuss with President Bashir," he said.

Libyan authorities, however, have no intention of handing al-Bashir over to the International Criminal Court, where he is wanted for crimes committed in Darfur.

Gadhafi, who the Libyan rebels killed after capturing, was also wanted by the ICC.

The new Libyan authorities said they are willing to work with the ICC on cases involving Libyans.

Richard Dicker, Human Rights Watch's director of the international justice program, said by not turning over al-Bashir to the court, it breaks the spirit of cooperation with the ICC.

"Welcoming to their capital a head of state accused of genocide, crimes against humanity, and war crimes is deeply disturbing in what it suggests about the new Libyan authorities' commitment to human rights and the rule of law," Dicker said.

CNN's Jack Maddox and Mariano Castillo contributed to this report.

Part of complete coverage on

January 4, 2012 -- Updated 1724 GMT (0124 HKT)

Tales of war leave out half the story much of the time: Women. But Angelina Jolie's new movie shows how raping women has become a weapon of war.

Wasabi lovers may want to add more than a small pinch to their soy sauce the next time they opt for sushi. The fiery green paste has been found to possess health benefits.

January 4, 2012 -- Updated 1754 GMT (0154 HKT)

How a fashion designer and polymer chemist are fusing style and substance to create clothes that clean our environment.

January 4, 2012 -- Updated 2335 GMT (0735 HKT)

"The Iran Job" follows American basketball player Kevin Sheppard as he accepts the opportunity to play in Iran.

CNN's Pedro Pinto looks at 10 footballers who could make a big impact at a new club in the second half of this season.

January 4, 2012 -- Updated 1045 GMT (1845 HKT)

Republicans hold their first vote for a presidential candidate, setting the scene for what may be a choice between two very different men.

January 4, 2012 -- Updated 1422 GMT (2222 HKT)

Many Libyan children have been killed or injured in accidents involving guns and explosives, left over from the civil war.

January 4, 2012 -- Updated 1527 GMT (2327 HKT)

The killing of Stephen Lawrence in 1993 was followed by two decades of collapsed court cases and police blunders.

January 4, 2012 -- Updated 1247 GMT (2047 HKT)

A former child soldier separated from his family during Sudan's civil war talks about his hopes for his new country.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/rss/edition_africa/~3/zebQZFwC4sg/index.html

yvette prieto hypertrophic cardiomyopathy maurice sendak kaye stevens michael jordan engaged kid cudi kasey kahne