The King of Saudi Arabia Salman Bin Abdulaziz has invited Sudanese President Omar al-Basher to visit the country for a summit next November. In the meantime, a number of rights groups are urging India to cancel plans for Bashir to visit.

Bashir received Saudi Ambassador Faisal Bin Hamid Mala yesterday after making an address to the parliament. The envoy handed him a letter from the king inviting him to the 4th Arab-Latin American-Summit scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia in November.

“The Ambassador pointed out to the distinguished relations between the two countries and the importance of participation of President al-Bashir in the summit,” reported state-run Sudan News Agency.

Bashir also been invited to visit India for the India-Africa summit to be held from 26 to 29 October.

Human Rights Watch and other rights groups urged India yesterday not to welcome the Sudanese leader on the grounds that he is wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.

Oby Nwankwo, steering committee member at the Nigerian Coalition of the ICC said, “Al-Bashir is an alleged war criminal on the run from the law. Hosting al-Bashir would tarnish India’s global standing and be an affront to the victims.”

“Many countries have avoided a visit from al-Bashir, and India should do the same,” said Elise Keppler, associate international justice director at Human Rights Watch.

“India should support the hundreds of thousands who have endured serious abuses in Darfur,” said Stella Ndirangu, program manager at the International Commission of Jurists-Kenya. “India should bar al-Bashir’s entry and assist in his arrest.”

Photo: Bashir meets Saudi Ambassador Faisal Bin Hamid Mala (SUNA)