Sudan's ousted president Bashir will not be extradited: Military rulers
Omar al-Bashir-Sudan
A day after the Sudanese army toppledpresident Omar al-Bashir, the country's military stated on Friday that they will not extradite the ousted president.
"The president is currently in custody," the head of the military council's political committee, Lieutenant General Omar Zain al-Abdin, told a news conference.
"We as a military council, we will not deliver the president abroad during our period" in office, Abdin said when asked about the ICC arrest warrant.
Meanwhile, the military leaders also reached out to the people and reassured them that their only concern was to maintain public order.
"Our basic mission is to maintain the country's stability and security," Abdin, told a news conference.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) has issued two arrest warrants against Bashir accusing him of organising war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's Dafur region between 2003 and 2008.
Sudan's new military rulers also warned Friday they would tolerate no breaches of security after protesters defied a night-time curfew to keep up a sit-in demanding immediate civilian rule.
Sudanese president wasousted by the army on Thursday aftermonths ofanti-government protestsagainst his three decades of iron-fisted rule.
In a televised addressDefence Minister Awad Ibnouf said, "I announce as minister of defence the toppling of the regime and detaining its chief in a secure place".
A transitional military council would replaceBashirfor two years, he said, adding that the country's borders and airspace would be shut until further notice.
The veteran leader, who swept to power in a 1989 coup, was one of Africa's longest serving presidents. He is wanted on charges of genocide and war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
(With inputs from AFP)