Sudan's Bashir to leave South Africa despite ICC arrest warrant

Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir, who has been ordered not to leave South Africa by the Pretoria High Court, is still in the country but will leave later on Monday, a Sudanese presidency spokesman said.

Sudanese president Omar al-Bashir at the opening session of the AU summit in Johannesburg, June 14, 2015. (AP Photo/Shiraaz Mohamed) Source: AP

Bashir, who is in South Africa attending an African Union summit, stands accused in an International Criminal Court arrest warrant of war crimes and crimes against humanity over atrocities committed in the Darfur conflict.

"President Bashir is still in Johannesburg but we are leaving South Africa today," Mohamed Hatem told Reuters.

Judge Hans Fabricius on Sunday barred Bashir from leaving South Africa until he had made a decision on an application by a human rights group calling for Bashir's arrest. The judge's hearing on the case is due to resume at 0930 GMT on Monday. 

South Africa's government has challenged the court's decision because it has given immunity to Bashir and all other delegates attending the AU summit.

Sudanese officials said on Sunday that the court order had "no value" because Bashir was invited by the South African government. 

(Reporting by Khalid Abdelaziz; Writing by Joe Brock; Editing by Ed Cropley)