African states agree on suspending Sudan's file in ICC

African states agreed on Sudan's suggestion to suspend its file in the International Criminal Court (ICC), said Sudanese Ambassador to South Africa Omar Sedik.

The African countries also tasked during the summit kicked off earlier on Sunday the African Union secretariat to hand over its decision in this regard to the Security Council, the ambassador said.

Sudan's President Omar Hassan Bashir is wanted by the ICC for war crimes over the conflict in Darfur.

The countries will also approve a second suggestion on forming a six-state committee to follow up the issue with the Security Council member states, the ambassador added.

The six countries are Sudan, Kenya, Ethiopia, Chad, Rwanda and Namibia.

Bashir arrived in South Africa on Saturday to take part in the African Union Summit, prompting the ICC to ask Johannesburg to hand him over.

The ICC has no police force and relies on member states to carry out arrests.