KHARTOUM, March 5: A defiant Sudanese President Omar al-Beshir on Thursday dismissed an international arrest warrant against him for war crimes as thousands of his supporters joined a mass rally in Khartoum.

“The true criminals are the leaders of the United States and Europe,” Beshir told the crowds.

The rally is the latest show of popular support for Beshir, who is accused by the International Criminal Court of masterminding a campaign of extermination, rape and pillage during the six-year conflict in Darfur.

Fears of insecurity and a worsening humanitarian crisis are mounting in Darfur after Sudan reacted to the warrant by expelling foreign aid groups.

More than 5,000 people joined the rally in Khartoum’s Martyrs Square shouting support for Sudan’s veteran leader and denouncing ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo who first called for the warrant in July.

Khartoum has vowed not to cooperate with court and a string of African and Arab states along with Sudan’s key ally China have called for the warrant to be suspended.

The UN says up to 300,000 people have died since conflict broke out in Darfur region in 2003, when rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated regime for a greater share of resources and power.—AFP
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