Sudanese president Bashir leaves South Africa - state minister

Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir has left Johannesburg, the state minister for information said on Monday.

Yasser Youssef told Reuters Bashir's plane was expected to land in the Sudanese capital Khartoum at about 6:30 pm local time (1530 GMT).

Bashir, who was attending an African Union summit in South Africa, has been indicted by the International Criminal Court over war crimes and crimes against humanity.

A South African government lawyer arguing against an application by a rights group to have Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir arrested said on Monday that he could not confirm reports that Bashir had left the country.

Bashir, who is attending an African Union summit in South Africa, has been indicted by the International Criminal Court over war crimes and crimes against humanity.

Local media reported sighting a Sudanese plane leaving Waterkloof Air Force Base near the capital Pretoria at around 1200 SA time. State advocate William Mokhari said this did not mean Bashir had left South Africa and he was requesting confirmation from the home affairs department.

-Reuters/TimesLIVE