Sudan's Bashir gets COMESA backing

• Leaders also tell Sudan and Chad to exercise restraint in their border dispute.
• Zimbabwe took over the chairmanship of COMESA from Kenya on Sunday.

African leaders on Monday backed Sudan President Omar al-Bashir, who is accused of crimes against humanity by the International Criminal Court and called for his warrant of arrest to be suspended.

In a communiqué read at the end of the Common Market of Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) heads of state and government summit, the leaders also called for Sudan and Chad to exercise restraint in their border dispute.

Mr Bashir was in Zimbabwe in defiance of the ICC warrant issued in March for his alleged role in the atrocities in Sudan’s Darfur region.

He had earlier told the summit that the warrant was part of a futile plot to isolate and fragment his country.

"It (the ICC warrant) is an action aimed at isolating Sudan and eventually fragmenting and dividing our country," he said.

"But through our own efforts and resources we are going to overcome such designs," he said in a speech delivered in Arabic and translated into English by an official.

The visit was his first to southern Africa after he travelled to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia and Libya, which are all not members of the ICC.

COMESA leaders called on the United Nations to press for the cancellation of the indictment and encourage a negotiated settlement to the conflict in Sudan.

The regional leaders also called for a robust approach to the problems of piracy in the coast of Somalia.

COMESA secretary general Mr Sindiso Ngwenya said the problem of piracy was one of the main peace and security issues of concern that the leaders deliberated on during the two- day summit that also saw the launch of a new customs union.

“Such issues include piracy off the coast of Somalia and we have received reports that it is now coming into the Mozambique channel,” Mr Ngwenya said.

“These are issues that need your attention and I am pleased to inform you that that the committee on peace and security which met two weeks ago in Mauritius considered these issues.”

Ousted Madagascar leader, Mr Marc Ravalomana who was invited to the summit as an observer also received the backing of the regional leaders who called for the return to democracy in the Indian Ocean Island.

Madagascar is a member of COMESA but its president Mr Andry Rajoelina was not invited to the summit.

Zimbabwe took over the chairmanship of COMESA from Kenya on Sunday.