Those now in power led the rebel army that drove out the Hutu killers in 1994.
But that still leaves the rebel army with another, perhaps bigger headache - their continued lack of weapons.
SPLA's fighting ability, it has failed to capitalise on the rebel army's disorganisation.
ECONOMIST: Plenty of peace initiatives around but no peace in sight
He also said the rebel army was not involved in the explosion.
The rebel army, made up of some 50 regionally based katibas (brigades) with remnants of the professional armed forces, is loosely organised and ill-disciplined.
The head of the rebel army's political wing, Hasim Thaci, 29, who was the Kosovars' chief negotiator in France, felt obliged to defer to Mr Demaci.
The court, however, has yet to investigate the rebel army that ultimately dislodged Mr. Gbagbo and which is also accused of killing hundreds as it marched across the country.
This fundamental conflict of interest would undermine the Southern cause, shape the destiny of the rebel army and ultimately contribute as much to the fall of Dixie as Lincoln's blue host.
Louai Miqdad, the spokesman for the rebel army, said al-Sharaa left Damascus more than a week ago and fled to Daraa to try to make sure his relatives, close proteges and other officials would be secure.
Shaikh now plans to split off and form his own group in coming days amid disagreements over the rebel army's relationship to the Syrian National Council, if rebel and opposition leaders can't come to a power-sharing compromise, rebels familiar with his plans said Friday.
The former rebel army, now calling themselves the Republican Forces, swept down from their base in the north, arriving in Abidjan on March 31st after meeting little resistance on the way.
Amani Kabasha, the M23 rebel spokesman, said that the national army used heavy artillery to shell the rebel base.
The appeal was dismissed by the rebel Free Syrian Army, which said the meeting was a "silly plot to mislead the international community to think there is a negotiation in place".
BBC: Syria conflict worsening, says UN envoy Lakhdar Brahimi
Earlier, the commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army said his group would work "under the umbrella" of any new government.
BBC: Syria opposition names Ghassan Hitto PM for rebel areas
Also on Wednesday, the Commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army, Gen Selim Idriss, called for the lifting of the EU arms embargo against Syria, saying it is having a much more negative effect on the opposition than on the Assad regime.
The former prime minister escaped Syria with the help of the rebel Free Syrian Army, el-Etri said, adding that the plan to defect had been in the works for two months.
At the same time, the rebel Free Syrian Army, largely composed of soldiers who defected from the al-Assad regime, is more a loose organization of armed groups than a coherent military body, said Joshi.
CNN: Syria: As al-Assad's grip loosens, what could come next?
The commander of the rebel Free Syrian Army, General Selim Idriss, has called for the lifting of the EU embargo, saying it is having a much more negative effect on the opposition than on the Assad regime.
The recent surrender of several fugitive Khmer Rouge leaders and the arrest of rebel army chief Ta Mok has speeded up efforts to provide justice to the victims and survivors of the "killing fields".
Riad Ahmed from the rebel Free Syrian Army said Sunday his group was unaware of an arms shipment purportedly destined for rebel fighters.
The belligerents the Sri Lankan army and the rebel Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam issue contradictory claims, and the area is closed to independent observers.
Even some preachers loyal to the fiery Shia preacher Muqtada al-Sadr, who used to sneer at the notion of a fair vote under American occupation, have become far more pliant since he ended the uprising of his rebel Mahdi Army in the Shias' holiest city, Najaf, in August.
McCain met with 18 commanders of the rebel Free Syrian Army near the country's northern border.
He says Mr Wahbh was held for 53 days by the rebel Free Syrian Army.
The rebel Free Syrian Army is thought to receive weapons and other supplies from Turkey.
Louay Almokdad, a spokesman for the rebel Free Syrian Army, said he was shocked by the report.
He said the dead include at least 300 civilians and 150 members of the rebel Free Syrian Army.
CNN: Syrian activist group: Record number of dead bodies found
"I myself went to two exchange negotiations, " said Louai Miqdad, a spokesman for the rebel Free Syrian Army.
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