CAIRO, ( SANA )_ Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Friday that Syria condemns and is concerned over the Prosecutor of the International Criminal Court request of an arrest warrant against the Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

" This action constitutes a dangerous precedent and an unacceptable interference in the internal affairs of  Sudan, particularly the International conventions and treaties have ensured immunity of Presidents of states from prosecution." Al-Moallem said in his speech during the Arab Foreign Ministers meeting at the Cairo-based Arab League headquarters.

" The policy of selectivity and double standards in dealing with this issue would undermine security and stability in Sudan and undermine the chances of achieving peace in Darfur." He added.

The Foreign Minister expressed Syrian people and government's solidarity with Sudan against this irresponsible decision.

Later, the Ministerial Meeting's final statement stressed solidarity with Sudan in the face of any schemes aimed at undermining its sovereignty, unity and stability.

The statement included not to accept the unbalanced and biased position of the ICC Prosecutor. The Arab FMs called for giving the priority for political settlement and called for an international high-profile summit to push the political process in Darfur and put a road map and timetable for implementing it.

They refused any attempts to politicize the principles of international justice and using them to disparage states' sovereignty, unity, security and stability and national symbols.

The Ministers urged the Security Council to shoulder responsibilities in maintaining the international peace and security and to be very careful in dealing with the situation in Sudan in the upcoming stage and not allowing any party or work that undermines efforts of the political settlement of the Darfur crisis.

" Creation of a climate of instability in the country threatens the future of peacekeeping efforts in Darfur and in southern Sudan." The statement included.

Earlier, ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo formally requested an arrest warrant against al-Bashir for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in the western Sudanese region of Darfur.

Sudan, which is not a member of the ICC, has rejected the ICC allegations against its president, dismissing them as "null and false" and maintaining that the ICC has no jurisdiction over Sudan.

Ghossoun /