Nigeria's presidency on Monday defended welcoming Sudan President Omar al-Bashir to the country for an African Union health summit despite war crimes charges against him, saying it cannot interfere in AU affairs.
.
Bashir arrived in the Nigerian capital Abuja on Sunday for the summit on HIV/AIDS, turberculosis and malaria despite being wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide.
.
The summit is due to take place on Monday and Tuesday. Rights activists in Nigeria say they plan to go to court on Monday in an effort to force Bashir's arrest.
.
"The event that is taking place is an AU summit," Reuben Abati, spokesman for Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, told AFP.