Updated

Zambia's government says Sudan's president, who is wanted internationally for war crimes, will skip a regional summit this week and send his foreign minister instead.

Zambia's state radio aired the information Tuesday. Zambia invited President Omar al-Bashir to the summit even though he faces a 2009 warrant. A Zambian government spokesman Monday said police would not have arrested him.

Opposition politicians in Zambia have criticized the decision to invite al-Bashir, who is wanted for crimes against humanity and genocide in suppressing the rebellion in Sudan's Darfur region. Several African nations and others have not carried out the International Criminal Court's warrant.

The summit, opening Wednesday, will review environmental issues.