Obama Administration Weighs Visa For Alleged War Criminal (Sudanese President Omar Bashir)

The Obama administration is stuck with the unenviable task of deciding whether to give a visa to an African dictator who's been accused of war crimes.

State Department spokeswoman Marie Harf confirmed Monday that Sudanese President Omar Bashir has applied for a visa to attend the opening of the UN General Assembly in New York this month. Bashir has been accused of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity for his role in Darfur and other conflicts by the international criminal court, which has issued a warrant for his arrest.

Harf would not say whether the visa would be granted but made clear the department's displeasure at the request.

“We have the visa application right now and would condemn any potential travel by him,” Harf told reporters. “We would say that before presenting himself to U.N. headquarters, President Bashir should present himself to the ICC in The Hague to answer for the crimes of which he’s been accused.”


Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/global-affairs/africa/322517-obama-administration-weighs-visa-for-alleged-war-criminal#ixzz2f61uKiwR