U.N. rights office urges Sudan to cooperate with ICC on Bashir case

GENEVA (Reuters) - The United Nations human rights office called on Sudan on Friday to cooperate with the International Criminal Court (ICC), which issued an arrest warrant for deposed President Omar al-Bashir for alleged war crimes nearly 15 years ago.

"We do encourage the authorities in Sudan to fully cooperate with the ICC, there is a Security Council resolution as far back as 2005 calling on the government of Sudan to fully cooperate with and provide assistance," U.N. human rights spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a Geneva news briefing.

Earlier, U.N. human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said Sudanese authorities should release people held for peacefully protesting and investigate the use of force against demonstrations since December.

(Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Giles Elgood)