Darfur rebel chief Abdel Wahid Mohammed Nur hailed the decision by the International Criminal Court to seek the arrest of Sudan's President Omar al-Beshir as a victory for his region on Wednesday.
"It is a great victory for the victims of Darfur and Sudan," Nur told AFP by phone in Paris, where he has been living in exile.
"Anybody who commits genocide will know that the world is not any longer a place for him to be free," he said.
The Hague-based ICC issued an arrest warrant for Beshir for war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur, the first ever warrant against a sitting head of state.
A founding father of Darfur's rebellion, Nur leads a faction of the Sudan Liberation Movement that has been fighting the Khartoum government since 2003.
"The people of Darfur and Sudan are very happy that those who commit genocide -- Beshir and his cabinet -- will not escape justice anymore," Nur added. "There is a great hope that the ongoing killings will stop."
Up to 300,000 people have died since Darfur rebels took up arms against the government, according to the United Nations. Khartoum puts the toll at 10,000.
{{/usCountry}}Up to 300,000 people have died since Darfur rebels took up arms against the government, according to the United Nations. Khartoum puts the toll at 10,000.
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