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The International Criminal Court (ICC) this week indicted the President of Sudan, Omar Al Bashir with 10 counts of crimes against humanity, war crimes, and genocide for the violence against civilians in Darfur. The move comes after two other leaders in Sudan were charged with similar crimes. Many analysts have said that the ICC actions will undermine diplomatic efforts, and the Khartoum regime has responded by threatening more reprisals in retaliation. But groups like Africa Action here in the United States, have applauded the ICC, saying that it could provide the U.N. Security Council with much-needed leverage to stop the on-going violence. Just last week, seven peacekeepers with the UN and African Union were killed in the most severe attack on the joint force since it began operating in Darfur in January. Meanwhile Human Rights Watch released a report last week assessing the first five years of the ICC. According to the report, despite mistakes in policy and practice, the ICC deserved greater international support. Over his tenure, President Bush has repeatedly criticized the ICC and attempted to weaken it.

GUESTS: Elizabeth Ross, Africa Program Director at Relief International, Ian Williams, journalist and writer, UN correspondent for the Nation and Tribune, Senior Analyst for Foreign Policy in Focus, has written for the Guardian, Financial Times, Village Voice, Salon.com, Alternet, and MaximNews. Read Ian’s blog at deadlinepundit.blogspot.com.