(Adds diplomats summoned, reaction) By Opheera McDoom KHARTOUM, July 11 (Reuters) - International organisations in Sudan tightened security on Friday, fearing a violent backlash if the International Criminal Court seeks an arrest warrant for President Omar Hassan al-Bashir as expected on Monday. ICC Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo is due to submit to the judges "evidence on crimes committed in the whole of Darfur over the last five years" and seek to charge an individual or individuals, a prosecution statement said on Thursday. It gave no details. The Washington Post quoted U.N. officials and diplomats as saying the prosecutor would charge Bashir with genocide and crimes against humanity on Monday. The Sudanese state news agency SUNA said ambassadors from the five permanent member of the U.N. Security Council and other diplomats were summoned by the Foreign Ministry on Friday to discuss the ICC announcement. They were told the court's action would have "very negative effects not only on the peace and stability in Sudan but also in the entire region", according to SUNA. The five permanent members of the Security Council are Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States. Sudan's state Information Minister Kamal Obeid told SUNA the timing of the announcement proved "the court's leanings were political rather than legal and it did not want to realise peace, economic growth and stability in Sudan". The United Nations declined to comment on security preparations but an urgent security notice sent to U.N. staff in Khartoum seen by Reuters said: "In light of recent security developments staff are advised to upgrade their personal security measures." The message told staff to refrain from all but essential movement over the weekend and after dark. "Ensure that you have an adequate supply of food and water in your home for several days, and that your vehicle is fully fuelled. Keep your personal documents and other essentials available," it said. U.N. staff said the notice was prompted by worries of violent protests against the ICC and partly by fears of another possible Darfur rebel attack on the capital following a May assault in which more than 200 people were killed. Sudanese security said they were rumours and there was no threat to the capital. EMBASSY MESSAGE A message to British nationals issued by their embassy in Khartoum said the U.N. security level had been raised and family members had been asked to leave. It advised British nationals to keep a low profile. The U.S. State Department withdrew all staff from the war-torn western region of Darfur, including those working for its humanitarian arm USAID, aid workers said. The U.S. embassy in Khartoum declined to comment. Aid agencies said they were concerned about a backlash following any ICC announcement. After ICC-prompted warrants for the arrest of two Sudanese suspects last year, there were government-organised protests in Khartoum's streets, while in Darfur, the world's largest humanitarian operation is already badly hampered by insecurity. Seven people were killed on July 8 in an ambush by militia of joint U.N.-African Union peacekeepers in Darfur. One militia leader has already been indicted by the ICC. Khartoum refused to hand over the militia leader and another indicted person, former state Minister of the Interior Ahmed Haroun. Instead, it made Haroun state minister of humanitarian affairs. International experts estimate about 200,000 people have died and 2.5 million have been driven from their homes since mostly non-Arab rebels took up arms in early 2003, accusing the central government of neglect. Khartoum mobilised mostly Arab militia to quell the revolt. They stand accused of systematic rape, looting and murder. (For more news and information on humanitarian issues visit Reuters AlertNet http://www.alertnet.org) (Editing by Andrew Dobbie)
Women demonstrate outside parliament against a new election law in Khartoum, July 7, 2008. Sudan's parliament passed a new election law on Monday, paving the way for the first free ballot ...
