The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor officially opened proceedings today against Sudanese President Omar el Bashir by submitting an application for an arrest warrant to a panel of pre-trial judges. The application includes a nine page summary of the charges against Bashir, as well as an explanation of why the prosecutor believes the evidence shows he is responsible for genocide in Darfur. The judges will take the next few weeks to weigh the merits of the application and decide whether or not to issue the warrant for the arrest of the Sudan's head of state.

On a conference call with reporters this morning the Enough Project's John Norris and John Prendergast responded to these developments. They made two points I think are worth repeating ad nausea. First, concerns that this action will somehow disturb the "peace process" ignore the fact that there is no peace process of which to speak. The status quo is untenable and, they say, worth jarring; attacks on civilians persist, UNAMID is coming under attack by government sponsored militias, and humanitarian access is routinely denied or obstructed by the Sudanese government.

Second, John Prendergast noted the political utility of the ICC action, saying it offers the Security Council a unique opportunity to "build leverage for a real peace process." By this, he means that the Security Council should hold out the potential of suspending the ICC process, if, and only if the Sudanese government enters into a good faith peace process. In other words, if members of the Security Council plays their cards right, they can use the threat of the ICC to back up a peace process that so far has proven elusive.

UPDATE: Here's a link to the Enough Project's full report making the case for bringing Bashir to justice.

>>Sudan - Today, ICC lead prosecutor Moreno Ocampo filed charges against president Omar al-Bashir for war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. Ocampo has charged that, through the "state apparatus," al-Bashir killed at least 35,000 directly and caused the "slow-death" of up to 265,000. Sudan is not party to the court and has refused to cooperate with any investigation. A "carefully choreographed" protest against the charges was held in Khartoum.

>>South Korea - South Korea announced today that it would recall its ambassador to Japan in protest of Japan's announcement that it would publish details about the two nations' dispute over the Dokdo/Takeshima islands in school teaching guides. In the middle school guides, the islands will be referred to as Japanese territory. The islands are uninhabitable but are surrounded by fertile fishing grounds.

>>Malaria - Researchers in Melbourne believe they may have made a major breakthrough in the fight against malaria by removing a protein that makes the parasite "sticky" and more difficult for the body to flush. The protein is one of eight that allows the parasite to attach itself to the walls of blood vessels and keep from being destroyed by the spleen.

• Giving Bashir His Day in Court
• When All Else Fails?
• Happy World Population Day
• Breaking: Sudan President to be Charged with Genocide
• Possble ICC Indictments Coming Monday
• More on the Attack on UNAMID

Africa

• Sudan - Stampede Kills 23 in Sudan Stadium
• Zimbabwe - Gordon Brown turns to EU after failed Zimbabwe vote
• Somalia - Aid groups mull leaving Somalia
• Nigeria - Nigerian jobs scramble kills 12
• Sierra Leone - Drug crew seized in Sierra Leone

Americas

• America - 9 Americans Die in Afghan Attack
• U.S. - American and British troops face a switch from Iraq to Afghanistan
• Brazil - Brazil oil workers begin strike
• Mexico - Eight shot dead in Mexico attack

East Asia

• China - China detains 100 for riot in southwestern town
• China - China detains two 'underground' Catholic priests
• South Korea - New S Korea call for North talks
• North Korea - N Korea to disable main reactor
• Thailand - Foes want Thai govt, Thaksin charged in temple row
• Japan - In Japan, Buddhism May Be Dying Out
• Malaysia - Police blockade Malaysian parliament to stop opposition attending debate

Europe

• France - Leaders mass for parade in Paris
• Italy and UK - Italy and Britain eye nuclear power potential
• Belgium - Belgians buy Budweiser brewer

Middle East

• Turkey - Turkey charges 86 for 'coup plot'
• Turkey - Five dead as Turkey battles PKK
• Israel - Israel moves Hezbollah prisoners ahead of swap
• Israel - Dispute on Paris summit wording
• Syria - Iran attack would hurt U.S., Israel: Syria's Assad
• Syria and Lebanon - Breakthrough for Syria and Lebanon in Paris

Oceania

• Australia - Pope May Apologize To Australian Victims

South Asia

• India - India left launch nuclear protest
• Pakistan - Pakistan Marble Helps Taliban Stay in Business

In which I speak with Jim Murphy, a British member of parliament, the UK Minster for Europe and UK Minister for Public Diplomacy--and blogger. In the conversation below, we discuss Minister Murphy's new book on public diplomacy, his take on the climate change debate in the United States, the Lisbon Treaty, and the prospect of Turkish ascension into the European Union.