Amnesty Urges Malaysia To Arrest Sudan's Bashir

Rights group Amnesty International urged Malaysia on Tuesday to withdraw its invitation to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and arrest him if he travels to the Southeast Asian country.

Bashir and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe are among several African leaders expected to take part in the Langkawi International Dialogue from June 19 to 21.

The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued arrest warrants for Bashir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in the wartorn western Sudanese region of Darfur.

"Malaysia should not turn itself into a port of call for fugitives from international justice," said Donna Guest, Amnesty's deputy director for Asia Pacific.

Mugabe, Sudan's Bashir To Visit Malaysia: Minister

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe and Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court, are to visit Malaysia for an economic gathering, a minister said Sunday.

Kohilan Pillay, deputy foreign minister, told AFP that Mugabe and Bashir will be among the seven African leaders who will participate in the Langkawi International Dialogue from June 19 to 21.

"Leaders of the African countries will present their views on how to bolster trade, economic and political ties at the annual meeting," he said.

The African leaders will be hosted by Prime Minister Najib Razak who will address the issue of socio-economic development.