Sudanese govt. launches investigation into Bashir

Sudan has officially launched an investigation into its former leader Omar al-Bashir over crimes he is alleged to have committed in the Darfur region during the conflict there.

The state prosecutor, Tagelsir al-Heber, has left the door open for any future trial to possibly take place at the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague.

The ICC issued an international arrest warrant for the deposed dictator over a decade ago on charges of war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity.

The Darfur conflict began in 2003 between rebels and pro-government militias.  The UN estimates around 300,000 people were killed during the struggle.

President Bashir was forced to resign in April following mass protests against his rule across the country.  He had been in power for over 30 years.

Public prosecutors have also charged Bashir with the killing of protestors in April, and over the coup which brought him to power in 1989.

Despite initially saying they would not extradite any Bashir-era leaders, the transition coalition government of military rulers and leaders of the protest movement have said they will not rule it out. 

Photo credit: Sky News