Indict Sudan's al-Bashir

For the first time since his government began committing atrocities in Darfur, Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir seems genuinely worried about a response from the international community.

Security Council admonitions, condemnation in Congress and accusations of genocide by a host of world leaders haven't been able to stop the carnage. But now the threat of an indictment for war crimes by the International Criminal Court has finally gotten the attention of Sudan's wicked leader.

Commend ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo for seeking the indictment.

That al-Bashir continues to defy all recognized standards of civilized conduct after all these years is a damning indictment of the international community and the lack of resolve by the United Nations. His policies have caused the deaths of an estimated 300,000 residents of Darfur since 2003 and driven at least 2 million more from their homes, yet he continues to rule with impunity from his citadel in Khartoum.

Content in the knowledge that allies like China, Russia and some Arab countries will block effective U.N. action, he has escaped punishment for his outrages. An indictment and arrest warrant issued by the ICC, however, would brand al-Bashir an international outlaw facing a date with justice.

Prosecutor Moreno-Ocampo should be commended for seeking the ICC indictment. The court and the Security Council, whose resolutions can govern ICC actions, must ignore pleas to shield al-Bashir from prosecution on the phony claim that it would jeopardize negotiations and harm relief workers in Darfur.

Al-Bashir should be indicted without delay. He has had five years to make a peace deal, but he has instead used the time to wage a criminal war. Any delay in prosecuting Sudan's president would only lead to more death and destruction and add to the Security Council's appalling record of failure in Darfur.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services.

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