Sudan defies warrant for president

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(Agencies)
Updated: 2009-03-05 07:50

Hundreds of Sudanese demonstrated in support of Sudan's president, shouting insults against an international court that issued an arrest warrant against him on charges of Darfur war crimes.

Sudanese protesters hold pictures of Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir (L) and Jordan's King Abdullah as they demonstrate in Amman March 4, 2009. [Agencies]

The crowd was waving pictures of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir and denouncing the top prosecutor at the International Criminal Court, calling him a "pig" and "coward."

The rally was made up of government employees and some members of Sudanese opposition political parties, in a show of unity in backing al-Bashir after the court issued its warrant against him yesterday.

Al-Bashir has denied accusations of war crimes in Darfur and refuses to deal with the court.

The decision against Bashir, the most senior figure pursued by the Hague-based court since it was set up in 2002, could spark more turmoil in Sudan and the surrounding region.

The court said it did not find sufficient grounds to include the count of genocide in Bashir's arrest warrant, but indicted Bashir on seven counts for war crimes, crimes against humanity, murder, forcible displacement and other crimes.

Sudan dismissed the ICC decision, with a presidential adviser telling state television that it was part of a "neo-colonialism" plan.

The court's move could hurt prospects for peace in Sudan and pit Western powers against backers of the Khartoum government.

Bashir has dismissed the allegations made by the ICC, the world's first permanent court for prosecuting war crimes, as part of a Western conspiracy.

"They can eat it (the warrant)," he told a crowd of cheering supporters in northern Sudan on Tuesday.

China, the African Union and the Arab League suggest an indictment could destabilize the region, worsen the Darfur conflict and threaten a troubled peace deal between north Sudan and the semi-autonomous south - potentially rich in oil.

ICC Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo accuses Bashir of orchestrating a campaign of genocide in Sudan's western region of Darfur, starting in 2003.

Violence has spiked in Darfur in the months leading up to the ICC decision. Sudanese government officials have said they expect Darfur rebels to step up attacks after the court's announcement.