South African activists say court acted against Sudan leader

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Activists say a South African judge has ordered authorities to prevent Sudanese president, Omar al-Bashir, from leaving the country because of an international order for his arrest.

There were indications that authorities would not heed efforts to have al-Bashir arrested on behalf of the International Criminal Court, if he is indeed in South Africa. South African media say he is attending a summit of the African Union, which has asked the International Criminal Court to stop proceedings against sitting presidents.

Al-Bashir’s exact whereabouts were unknown Sunday. He has not been seen in public at the Johannesburg meeting.

The Southern Africa Litigation Centre, a rights group, says it secured a judge’s ruling that the government must stop al-Bashir from leaving South Africa while the court hears arguments for his arrest for alleged genocide and other crimes.