Rights groups balk at Sudan leadership of AU News
Rights groups balk at Sudan leadership of AU

[JURIST] Human rights groups Monday voiced objections to Sudan President Omar al-Bashir [profile] becoming the rotating chair of the African Union [official website] for 2006-2007 when African nations hold a summit [agenda] in Khartoum next week. In a letter to African leaders, a coalition of 50 groups expressed concern about Bashir shaping the peace progress in the violence-wracked Darfur region [JURIST news archive] of western Sudan and claimed that letting him preside over the regional body would "deeply undermine and erode the credibility of the AU". The AU does not have clear guidelines on who should hold the position if Sudan does not. Reuters has more.