ALGIERS, July 22, 2008 (AFP) - The International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor's move to indict Sudanese President Omar El-Bashir for war crimes is undermining peace in Darfur, the Algerian minister for African affairs was reported as saying Tuesday.

'The decision of the prosecutor .... endangers the process of a political and peaceful resolution to the Darfur' conflict, Abdelkader Messahel was quoted as saying in the government daily El Moudjahid.

On July 13 the chief prosecutor at the ICC asked for an arrest warrant against Beshir for genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

Messahel said the decision could constitute a serious precedent, paving the way for an unconstitutional change of government in Sudan.

Messahel insisted he was in favour of the 'fight against impunity and for the respect of human rights in Sudan', adding that he welcomed the 'commitments taken by the Sudanese government concerning reported violations in Darfur.'