JEDDAH - The Organisation of the Islamic Conference (OIC) on Sunday expressed "deep concern" at reports International Criminal Court prosecutors would seek the arrest of Sudan President Omar al-Beshir.
OIC secretary general Ekmeleddin Ihsanoglu warned of "grave ramifications" that might arise out of the move, which, he said, "could seriously threaten the fragile peace in Darfur," an OIC statement said.
Ihsanoglu also expressed his surprise that the ICC, "which has on different occasions opted for silence on atrocities perpetrated in various parts of the world ... found it now fit to bring up such a controversial issue that might jeopardize the quest for peace in Sudan and the region," the statement said.
"This approach amounts to double standards and will not be conducive to enhance the efforts aiming at healing and reconciliation in the region," it said.
"Such an approach could also lead to the politicisation of issues of a purely legal character."
The chief ICC prosecutor is on Monday widely expected to name the Sudanese ruler a war crimes suspect.
Sudanese officials have been locked in emergency talks for days, requested an Arab League crisis meeting and summoned ambassadors to warn that the government will make a political response to any ICC move on its top members.
Sudan refuses to recognise the ICC or arrest warrants issued for secretary of state for humanitarian affairs Ahmed Haroun and Arab militia leader Ali Kosheib. It says it has established its own court to try Darfur cases.
The UN Security Council ordered the international court in 2005 to investigate those suspected of murder, rape and looting in Darfur.
Ihsanoglu said the 57-member OIC, the world's largest forum of Islamic nations, "condemns all acts committed in impunity and strongly favours the search for justice in a manner that does not escalate the threat of instability in any region of the world."
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07/13/2008 18:03 GMT