Sudan's Bashir 'will face justice', ICC chief

London, 05 March-(ANA)-Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir will eventually face justice in The Hague, according to the head of the International Criminal Court.

Speaking on the first anniversary of the ICC issuing an arrest warrant for Bashir, its president Judge Sang-hyun Song dismissed criticism that the man wanted on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity has not been apprehended.

"When arrest warrants were issued against Slobodan Milosevic and Charles Taylor, people laughed and said it was a joke, but it took less than three years to get them brought before the tribunal," Song said on a visit to London.

Bashir has dismissed the ICC warrant and said any ruling by the court is worthless.

"President Bashir will be brought to the Hague to face justice," Song insisted.

The United Nations estimates seven years of violent conflict in Sudan's Darfur region has left 300,000 dead.

Scott Gration, the U.S. special envoy for Sudan, said justice for Darfur was essential to securing lasting peace in Sudan following a recent ceasefire and efforts to bring rebel groups into talks with the government. (ANA)

FA/ANA/05 March 2010-------