Amsterdam: The International Criminal Court has summoned a Sudanese rebel leader to face war crimes charges for an attack that killed 12 African Union peacekeepers in Darfur in September 2007.

The court said Bahr Idriss Abu Garda will appear voluntarily at an initial hearing on Monday.

Abu Garda's surrender stands in contrast to that of Sudanese President Omar Al Bashir, who rejected the court's authority after it issued an arrest warrant for him in March.

The International Criminal Court prosecutes war crimes in countries where it has jurisdiction—granted by the UN in the case of Sudan's civil war.

Abu Garda is charged with murder, pillaging and attacking peacekeepers at the AU's Haskanita peacekeeping base in northern Darfur.