Darfur: President Omar al-Bashir has accepted responsibility for the civil war in Darfur. In an interview, Bashir said that, as president, he is responsible for everything which happens in Sudan.
But he disputed the version of events offered by international media and the UN, saying the West was trying to vilify him.
Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for alleged genocide during the conflict.
“Of course, I am the president so I am responsible about everything happening in the country,” Bashir told the Guardian.
“Everything happening, it is a responsibility. But what happened in Darfur, first of all, it was a traditional conflict taking place from the colonial days.”
Bashir said his troops did not fight against ordinary Darfuris, despite numerous allegations of thousands of civilians being killed in ground and air attacks.
He said only 70,000 people have been displaced by the eight-year-old war, disputing the UN’s figure of close to two million.
In the past the president has also disputed the UN’s estimate of more than 300,000 deaths caused by the Darfur conflict, saying the real figure is 10,000.
The leader said the charges against him by the ICC were politically motivated, accusing the body of “double standards” and describing the chief prosecutor, Luis Moreno Ocampo, as a liar.
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