Sudan opens Darfur crimes probe against Bashir regime figures

Sudan said on Sunday it h opened an investigation into crimes committed in Darfur region by members of regime of ousted president Omar al-Bashir. Prosecutor general Tlsir al-Heber said "we started an investigation about crimes that have been committed in Darfur from 2003", speaking on his arrival in Khartoum from a visit to United Arab Emirates.

investigation -- first launched since Bashir was ousted by army in April amid mass protests after 30 years in power -- focuses on "cases against former regime leers", Heber said without giving names.

Bashir is wanted by International Criminal Court

Bashir himself, who is behind bars for corruption and awaiting trial on or charges, is wanted by International Criminal Court in Hague for his role in bloody conflict. ICC issued warrants for Bashir's arrest in 2009 and 2010 on charges of gecide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in conflict that left around 300,000 people de and 2.5 million displaced, according to United Nations.

Darfur fighting broke out in 2003 when ethnic mirity rebels took up arms against Bashir's Arab-dominated government, which y accused of marginalising region. Human rights groups say Khartoum targeted suspected pro-rebel ethnic groups with a scorched earth policy, raping, killing, looting and burning vills. Despite numerous calls for his extrition, ex-dictator has t been sent to Hague, seat of ICC.

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Brought to power by a 1989 coup, Bashir was deposed on April 11 by army, after months of a mass protest movement against his regime that left dozens de. Following a deal reached in August between military and protesters, Sudan is w led by a transitional government tasked with paving way for civilian rule. investigation was anunced on Sunday as new government has vowed to establish peace in country's conflict-hit regions, including Darfur.

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On December 14, Bashir was sentenced by a court in Khartoum to two years' detention in a correctional centre for corruption in first of several cases against him. Bashir is also being investigated for his role in 1989 coup that brought him to power. On Sunday, Heber also said that proceedings h been launched against Salah Gosh, former intelligence chief under Bashir.

"re are four cases against Salah Gosh and we started a procedure to bring him (back to Sudan) by Interpol." Gosh, he of feared National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), resigned in April two days after ouster of Bashir and is w outside of Sudan.

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