Turkey: Indicted Sudan leader won't attend summit

By The Associated Press

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Turkey said Sunday that Sudan's internationally indicted leader, President Omar al-Bashir, will not attend a conference of Muslim nations in Istanbul.

Turkey had faced criticism for its planned welcome of al-Bashir, who is the first government leader to face international war-crimes charges.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had said al-Bashir would be welcome at Monday's Istanbul summit of the 57-nation Organization of the Islamic Conference. Erdogan also downplayed accusations that al-Bashir and his regime orchestrated the slaughter, rape and mass expulsion of African natives in Darfur.

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FILE - In this Jan. 21, 2008 file photo, Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir seen during a news conference with his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul, not pictured, in Ankara, Turkey.Turkey should arrest Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir if he visits Istanbul because of an international warrant against him for atrocities in Darfur, human rights groups said Friday, Nov. 6, 2009. Omar al-Bashir will reportedly arrive in Istanbul on Monday for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference, a bloc of Muslim countries. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Afghan President Hamid Karzai are also expected to attend the meetings.

By Burhan Ozbilici, File | AP Photo

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President Hamid Karzai of Afghanistan waves at the Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2008. Karzai is in Turkey to attend the Islamic Organization Conference, on Monday, along with other leaders and heads of states from Islamic nations around the world. The Islamic Organization Conference, is aimed to foster economic and business cooperation among Islamic countries.

By Burhan Ozbilici | AP Photo

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Turkish President Abdullah Gul, center, speaks at the opening of the meetings of the Organization of Islamic Conference in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, Nov. 7, 2009. Turkey should arrest Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir if he visits Istanbul because of an international warrant against him for atrocities in Darfur, human rights groups said Friday. Omar al-Bashir will reportedly arrive in Istanbul on Monday for a meeting of the Organization of Islamic Conference, a bloc of Muslim countries. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Afghan President Hamid Karzai are also expected to attend the meetings.

By Ibrahim Usta | AP Photo

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President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad of Iran waves as he speaks with Iranian children at the Ataturk airport in Istanbul, Turkey, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. Ahmedinejad is in Turkey to attend the Islamic Organization Conference, on Monday, along with other leaders and heads of states from Islamic nations around the world. The Islamic Organization Conference, is aimed to foster economic and business cooperation among Islamic countries.

By Burhan Ozbilici | AP Photo

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But the Turkish government said Sunday night it had been informed that al-Bashir would not attend the summit.

"We have received information that the Sudanese president will not attend the IOC (Organization of the Islamic Conference) meeting," a senior government official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity in line with government policy.

Turkey does not recognize the authority of the International Criminal Court, the Hague, Netherlands-based body that in March issued an arrest warrant for al-Bashir.

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