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Defiant Sudan president in Darfur Defiant Sudan president in Darfur
(about 1 hour later)
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has arrived in Darfur on his first visit there since an international arrest warrant was issued for him.Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has arrived in Darfur on his first visit there since an international arrest warrant was issued for him.
Mr Bashir, who is accused of committing war crimes in Darfur, is in the North Darfur state capital of El Fasher. Mr Bashir, who is accused of war crimes in the region, is visiting the North Darfur state capital of El Fasher.
Correspondents described the trip as a calculated show of defiance.Correspondents described the trip as a calculated show of defiance.
He earlier told a rally in the capital, Khartoum, that if anyone wanted to fight him, they should come to Sudan instead of issuing arrest warrants. On Saturday, he told a rally in the capital, Khartoum, if anyone wanted to fight him, they should come to Sudan instead of issuing arrest warrants.
He described as "thieves" the 13 aid agencies whose expulsion he announced earlier in the week.
He accused them of taking "99% of the budget for humanitarian work themselves, and giving the people of Darfur 1%."
The United Nations says the expulsion puts more than a million lives at risk.
They have to come to our land to fight us themselves President Bashir
The UN estimates that 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million displaced in Darfur, since black African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated regime demanding a greater share of resources and power.The UN estimates that 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million displaced in Darfur, since black African rebels took up arms against the Arab-dominated regime demanding a greater share of resources and power.
At Saturday's rally, Mr Bashir danced in front of supporters from south Sudan, wearing a traditional feathered head-dress and colourful beads, AFP news agency reported. Analysts say Mr Bashir is putting himself in some personal danger by visiting El Fasher, despite the heavy security, because most people in Darfur are said to support the war crimes indictment against him.
"If someone wants to fight us, then they should not come with resolutions from the United Nations Security Council or the ICC," he said. The most active rebel group, the Justice and Equality Movement - which last May launched an unprecedented attack on Khartoum - has threatened to target El Fasher in the past.
"They have to come to our land to fight us themselves." Nevertheless Mr Bashir, 65, travelled from El Fasher airport on Sunday in an open vehicle to the centre of town along a route lined with several thousand cheering supporters, many riding camels and horses.
The International Criminal Court (ICC) issued a warrant for Mr Bashir on 4 March, accusing him of two counts of war crimes and five crimes against humanity in Darfur. Waving flags and pictures of the president, the crowd chanted his name, as well as slogans against International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and the West.
It is the first such warrant served against a serving head of state. 'Thieves and spies'
On Saturday in the capital, Mr Bashir described as "thieves" and "spies" the 13 aid agencies whose expulsion he announced after the war crimes indictment was issued.
They have to come to our land to fight us themselves President Bashir
He danced in front of supporters from South Sudan, wearing a traditional feathered head-dress and colourful beads.
Mr Bashir accused aid groups of taking "99% of the budget for humanitarian work themselves, and giving the people of Darfur 1%".
The United Nations says the expulsion puts more than a million lives at risk.
The ICC issued a warrant for Mr Bashir on 4 March, accusing him of two counts of war crimes and five crimes against humanity in Darfur.
It is the first such indictment against a serving head of state.
But Mr Bashir has questioned the right of the ICC to try him, saying that if the court was genuinely impartial, it would also have jurisdiction over US citizens.But Mr Bashir has questioned the right of the ICC to try him, saying that if the court was genuinely impartial, it would also have jurisdiction over US citizens.
"Is this a court of justice? Are they [the US] members of it? If it is a court of justice, then why don't they join it?" he said."Is this a court of justice? Are they [the US] members of it? If it is a court of justice, then why don't they join it?" he said.
Aid concerns 'Abusing hospitality'
The UN Security Council, at its first meeting since the arrest warrant was issued, failed to agree on a statement asking Sudan to reverse the decision to expel the aid agencies. Khartoum's UN ambassador has denied the expulsions were politically-motivated, levelling accusations at the agencies.
Khartoum's UN ambassador denied the expulsions were politically-motivated, levelling accusations at the agencies. Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed said: "They are messing up everything as far as stability and security of Darfur is concerned. They are abusing the hospitality of the Sudanese people," AFP reported him as saying.
"We have a full dossier of information against those organisations," Abdalmahmood Abdalhaleem Mohamed said. Also on Saturday the UN Security Council, at its first meeting since the arrest warrant was issued, failed to agree on a statement asking Sudan to reverse the decision to expel the aid agencies.
"They are messing up everything as far as stability and security of Darfur is concerned. They are abusing the hospitality of the Sudanese people," AFP reported him as saying.
The key powers at the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, the US and Britain - met to discuss a statement which called on Sudan to reverse the expulsions.The key powers at the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, the US and Britain - met to discuss a statement which called on Sudan to reverse the expulsions.
But diplomats say China, Sudan's key ally and trading partner, objected. But diplomats say China, which buys Sudan's oil and sells it weapons, objected.
A delegation from the African Union and the Arab League is due to ask the Security Council to suspend the war crimes case against Sudan's president.A delegation from the African Union and the Arab League is due to ask the Security Council to suspend the war crimes case against Sudan's president.