There are conflicting reports on whether Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir will attend the U.N. General Assembly meeting, currently under way in New York City.
The International Criminal Court (ICC), which has indicted Mr. Bashir for alleged war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region, has urged the United States to arrest Mr. Bashir if he travels to New York.
Mr. Bashir was nevertheless scheduled to address U.N. on Thursday.
Late on Wednesday, U.N. officials say Sudan canceled Mr. Bashir's appearance, and that Foreign Minister Ali Karti would speak in his place on Friday.
However, Sudan's state-run news agency says the foreign ministry has dismissed that report as "false," and said visa applications for Mr. Bashir and his delegation were still pending at the U.S. embassy in Khartoum. The ministry urged the U.S. to process the requests.
Mr. Bashir is accused of orchestrating crimes including murder, rape and extermination against civilians in Darfur, where rebel groups have been fighting the Bashir government since 2003.
He has been careful to travel only to countries that are not part of the ICC or have guaranteed his safety.
The International Criminal Court (ICC), which has indicted Mr. Bashir for alleged war crimes in Sudan's Darfur region, has urged the United States to arrest Mr. Bashir if he travels to New York.
Mr. Bashir was nevertheless scheduled to address U.N. on Thursday.
Late on Wednesday, U.N. officials say Sudan canceled Mr. Bashir's appearance, and that Foreign Minister Ali Karti would speak in his place on Friday.
However, Sudan's state-run news agency says the foreign ministry has dismissed that report as "false," and said visa applications for Mr. Bashir and his delegation were still pending at the U.S. embassy in Khartoum. The ministry urged the U.S. to process the requests.
Mr. Bashir is accused of orchestrating crimes including murder, rape and extermination against civilians in Darfur, where rebel groups have been fighting the Bashir government since 2003.
He has been careful to travel only to countries that are not part of the ICC or have guaranteed his safety.