TRIPOLI, Libya - Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir met with top Libyan officials in the capital, Tripoli, on Saturday during his first visit to the country since rebels armed with Sudanese help ousted Moammar Gadhafi last year.
The visit could herald closer ties between the two nations after years of deteriorating relations under Gadhafi. Sudan had accused Gadhafi of supporting rebels fighting the Sudanese government in the western Darfur region, and al-Bashir openly supported Libyan rebels in the 2011 uprising, giving them weapons and money.
Following lunch with al-Bashir at an upscale Tripoli hotel, Libyan Prime Minister Abdurrahim el-Keib said he considered the Sudanese leader among Libya's friends.
Some, however, pointed out the irony of a government founded by rebels who overthrew one autocrat warmly welcoming another.
Al-Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands, on charges of crimes against humanity for his role in cracking down on the Darfur rebels. The same court sought to try Gadhafi for war crimes before he was killed during his capture by rebels in October.
Amnesty International called Libya's reception of al-Bashir "disturbing," saying it "raises questions about the NTC's stated commitment to human rights and the rule of law." The NTC is the National Transitional Council that is governing the country until elections are held.
