Court issues war crimes warrant for Sudan's Bashir THE HAGUE, Netherlands - The International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant Wednesday for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir on charges of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur. He is the first sitting head of state the court has ordered arrested. Christmas celebrations reflect on war, hardship VATICAN CITY (AFP) - War and economic hardship loomed over Christmas celebrations across the world on Thursday, with Pope Benedict XVI pleading for an end to "hatred and violence" in the Middle East. Five kidnapped Chinese oil workers killed in Sudan KHARTOUM (AFP) - Sudan said Darfur rebels on Monday shot and killed five kidnapped Chinese oil workers and that two others escaped with gunshot wounds in the first deadly foreign hostage ordeal since the war began.