The Egyptian top diplomat stressed Khartoum should be given the opportunity to "enforce the law and bring criminals to justice."

Khartoum has been under pressure to send war crime suspects in Darfur to the ICC in The Hague for trial, but it maintains it has the legal framework to prosecute the suspects in Sudan.

Abul Gheit warned the adoption of strict measures against Sudan over the issue, saying such measures could "negatively affect current efforts to settle Sudan's Darfur crisis."

Such measures could also "give an opportunity to certain partiesto widen the scope of the crisis", added the Egyptian foreign minister who did not elaborate.

ICC announced earlier this month investigation into human rightsviolations and other atrocities committed in Darfur since rebels took up arms against the government in early 2003.