Sudan's President Omar Hassan al-Bashir chosen by his ruling party as sole candidate for 2015 elections

KHARTOUM - Sudan's ruling party has chosen sitting President Omar Hassan al-Bashir as its candidate for presidential elections scheduled for April 2015, a top party official said on Tuesday.

Ibrahim Ghandour, vice president of the National Congress Party, told Reuters Bashir had been chosen by the party's decision-making council out of five candidates. His name would be the only one put forward for a final approval vote at a party conference starting on Thursday, Ghandour added.

Bashir is wanted by the International Criminal Court on charges of genocide and other war crimes in the strife-torn Darfur region. He dismisses the charges and Sudan refuses to deal with the Hague-based court.