A Sudanese official is calling on U.S. President Barack Obama to hear the country's stance on Darfur and other issues.
Mustafa
Osman Ismail, a Sudanese presidential adviser, says the Obama
administration needs to "listen" to Sudan and other voices in the
Islamic world if it wants to improve the United States' image abroad.
Former President George Bush labeled the situation in Darfur a genocide, a charge the Sudanese government rejects.
In
his comments, carried by Sudanese media Thursday, Ismail also said
Sudan's ruling party is ready for what he termed "plots or challenges"
if the International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for
President Omar al-Bashir.
ICC prosecutors requested the
warrant, saying Mr. Bashir is responsible for a campaign of rape,
murder, and deportation in Darfur.
Sudan has refused to deal
with the court but is campaigning for the ICC to at least delay its
move, saying it would hurt Darfur peace efforts.
The United
Nations says more than 200,000 people have died in the six-year
conflict between Darfur rebel groups and the Sudanese government.
Sudan puts the death toll much lower, at 10,000.
Some information for this report was provided by AP.
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