Sudan: All normal, Bashir to return after AU summit

Sudan insisted on Sunday that President Omar al-Bashir's visit to Johannesburg for a summit was proceeding normally and he would return after its main meeting, despite a local court order banning him from leaving.

A South African court on Sunday issued a temporary ban on Bashir leaving the country after the International Criminal Court called for him to be arrested. He is wanted over alleged war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in the Darfur conflict.

"It is difficult to give details of President Bashir's timetable, but he will return when the main session is over. This could be today or tomorrow. I will not go into the details," Sudan's State Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamal Ismail said at a press conference.

"Until now, things are normal and there is no risk to his excellency the president," Ismail said.