Wanted Sudan leader Bashir avoids South Africa arrest

Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has returned to Khartoum from South Africa, avoiding arrest over war crimes charges on an international warrant.

Mr Bashir flew out of South Africa despite an order barring him from leaving while a Pretoria court decided whether to arrest him on charges issued by the International Criminal Court.

Mr Bashir was visiting Johannesburg for an African Union (AU) summit.

An ICC official said the failure to arrest Mr Bashir was "disappointing".

"We still remain quietly optimistic and determined to see justice done in this case," deputy prosecutor James Stewart told the BBC.

The Pretoria High Court issued an order for Mr Bashir's arrest hours after his aircraft left the country.

A South African judge, Dunstan Mlambo, meanwhile said the failure to arrest Mr Bashir had violated the country's constitution.

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