US urges restraint after court moves against Sudan
Lawyer Blogs
The Obama administration called Wednesday for all parties to the Darfur conflict to exercise restraint after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on war crimes charges.
The United States is not a member of the court, but the White House and the State Department said that anyone who has committed atrocities should be held accountable.
"As this process moves forward, we would urge restraint on the part of all parties, including the government of Sudan," White House press secretary Robert Gibbs told reporters. "Further violence against civilians, Sudanese or foreign interests is to be avoided and won't be tolerated."
Gibbs declined to comment on whether President Barack Obama supported the issuance of the warrant, but the State Department said the indictment could help bring peace to the region.
"This can be a helpful step," State Department deputy spokesman Gordon Duguid said. "We will see how it proceeds from here."
Duguid urged all sides to cooperate with the court's decision and added that the United States, which has an embassy but not an ambassador in Khartoum, would review diplomatic contacts with Bashir in light of the ICC arrest warrant, the first issued against a sitting head of state.
"Because we take the court's actions very seriously, any official contacts with President Bashir would have to be carefully reviewed on a case-by-case basis, very mindful of the indictment," Duguid said, noting that the United States believes "it is evident that the government of Sudan has the brunt of the responsibility for what has happened in Darfur."
Related listings
-
Madoff trustee asks for firms, property and artwork
Lawyer Blogs 03/04/2009A court-appointed trustee in the case against Bernard Madoff has asked a judge if he may take over ownership of the accused swindler's firm, an associated trading firm, property, artwork and corporate entertainment tickets. Court documents seen on Tu...
-
Gigantic gem is subject of LA court case
Lawyer Blogs 03/04/2009An 840-pound emerald-encrusted rock will remain in the custody of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department while a judge decides which of a half-dozen claimants owns the boulder-sized gem. The emerald is one of the largest ever found and a judge c...
-
High court to decide when judges should step aside
Lawyer Blogs 03/03/2009The Supreme Court is set to hear arguments in a sensitive dispute about judicial ethics. The justices are expected to issue at least one ruling Tuesday morning, then consider a West Virginia case about when elected judges should step aside from cases...
New York Commercial Litigation Law Firm - Woods Lonergan PLLC
Founded in 1993 by Managing Partner James F. Woods, Woods Lonergan PLLC has built a strong reputation as a resourceful and industrious firm that provides clients with clear, concise, and straightforward answers to their most challenging legal issues. Partner Lawrence R. Lonergan, who joined the firm in 2008, has been a friend and colleague to Mr. Woods for over 40 years and shares the same business philosophy. Woods Lonergan PLLC’s collective experience and expertise enables the firm to expeditiously and effectively analyze the increasing challenges clients face in an evolving business and legal world, in many instances, avoiding unnecessary time and expense to our clients. Our mission is simple: provide cutting-edge expertise and sound advice in select areas of the law for corporate and business clients. We thrive on providing each client with personalized attention, forceful representation, and a collaborative team effort that embraces collective knowledge.