Prosecutor waits as Sudan's Al Bashir defies warrant

The Hague: Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir may be able to travel to friendly neighbouring nations but he remains a fugitive from international justice, the International Criminal Court's prosecutor said.

Al Bashir was back in Sudan on Friday after jetting to Eritrea, Egypt and Libya in four days, effectively thumbing his nose at the war crimes court that issued an arrest warrant March 4 charging him with genocide in his country's Darfur region.

But all three countries are Sudan allies. None are among the 108 countries that recognize the court and are obliged to arrest him if they can.

"To be honest, Mr. Bashir's actions look to me more like desperation than defiance: how can he be proud to be traveling to neighboring countries?" Luis Moreno Ocampo told AP. "He is a fugitive from the law, and this is how he is acting."

Al Bashir's trips were to thank allies for their support since the international arrest warrant was issued and discuss Darfur.

Ocampo said prosecutors in The Hague are monitoring Al Bashir's movements, but he has no police force to execute the warrant.