Ban Ki-Moon, the United Nations secretary-general, on Monday told Sudan it must continue to co-operate fully with UN personnel in the country and ensure their safety regardless of the international arrest warrant looming over its head of state.

Mr Ban spoke by telephone with Omar al-Bashir, Sudanese president, at the weekend to stress the independence of the International Criminal Court and to remind him that, as secretary-general, he had no power to interfere in its actions.