Sudan’s president hits Beijing

Sudanese president and accused war criminal Omar al-Bashir showed up in Beijing on Tuesday, a day later than planned with no formal explanation about why his orginal schedule had been scrapped.

Several reports said al-Bashir's trip from Iraq was on a dangerous flight course and had to turn back, while his planned meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao was canceled. Al-Bashir, the first sitting head of state wanted by the International Criminal Court for war crimes and crimes against humanity, is controversial visitor, to say the least. China's relationship with his regime is a source of criticism for human rights groups, who have called on China to turn him in to the ICC.

Meanwhile, the state-run news agency said China will use al-Bashir's visit to help promote peace in Sudan.