S.Africa may quit ICC over Bashir row: Presidency

South Africa said June 25 it may withdraw from the International Criminal Court after an outcry over the government's refusal to arrest Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on genocide charges.

Bashir, who is wanted by the ICC on genocide charges, left the country last week after attending an African Union summit despite a court in Pretoria barring his departure while it ruled whether he could be arrested.
 
The cabinet, which came under fire from the ICC, rights groups, other governments and the South African opposition for failing to detain Bashir, said it had decided to review its standing with the ICC.
 
"South Africa may as a last resort ... consider withdrawing from the ICC," Minister in the Presidency Jeff Radebe told reporters. "Such a decision will only be taken when South Africa has exhausted all remedies available to it in terms of the Rome Statute," the court's founding document.    

A panel of ministers will be put together to discuss the dispute with the ICC while South Africa may also take it up with the International Court of Justice, Radebe said.
 
"South Africa will enter into formal negotiations with the ICC on this matter with the view of understanding the ICC's reasoning," he said.
 
The government argued that because Bashir was attending a summit of the African Union he had immunity from arrest.
 
But on June 24 the High Court in Pretoria that was considering the case dismissed this argument, saying instead that the government had been under an obligation to arrest Bashir.
 
The court even urged prosecutors to consider criminal charges over the government's failure to prevent Bashir from leaving the country.
 
The government has until the end of June 25 to...