Uganda says would 'consider' granting Bashir asylum

Uganda would consider granting asylum to ousted Sudanese president Omar Al Bashir, who is wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC), a state minister said on Tuesday.

"If Uganda is approached to grant asylum to Bashir it is an issue that can be considered at the highest level of our leadership," state minister for foreign affairs Henry Okello Oryem told reporters.

He said that as a result of Bashir's key role in mediating a peace deal in neighbouring South Sudan, "his asylum in Uganda is what the government of Uganda can consider."

In the meantime, "Uganda is keenly following the developments in Sudan and we ask the new leadership there to respect the aspirations of the Sudanese people among them peaceful transfer of power to the civilian rule."

Bashir's three-decade reign was toppled last week by top commanders after four months of nationwide demonstrations.

Protest leaders say Bashir must face justice, however the transitional military council currently leading the country has said it will not extradite the ousted leader.

The council says Bashir remains in custody, but has not specified his whereabouts or that of other senior regime leaders.

Uganda is one of several African nations which have hosted Bashir in the past without handing him over to the ICC, despite being signatories of the tribunal.

Bashir faces charges of genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity relating to the conflict in Darfur.

The war in Darfur broke out when ethnic minority rebels took up arms against Bashir's government, which launched a brutal counter-insurgency.

The UN Security Council asked the ICC in 2005 to investigate the crimes in Darfur, where the UN estimates at least 300,000 people have been killed and 2.5 million displaced.

Agence France-Presse