Head of AU 'panel of the wise' says charges against Sudan leader could be mistake

The chairman of the African Union's "Panel of the Wise" says genocide charges against Sudan's president could "lead to a lot of danger."

Former Algerian President Ahmed Ben Bella leads an AU panel of distinguished citizens to promote efforts to prevent conflict in Africa.

"If we do not actually find a solution this might be an unconstitutional way of pushing aside a head of state," he said Thursday in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital and headquarters of the AU.

The Dutch-based International Criminal Court is seeking an arrest warrant for Omar al-Bashir on charges of waging a campaign of genocide and rape in Darfur. It is the first time prosecutors at the world's first permanent war crimes tribunal have issued charges against a sitting head of state.