This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/africa/7930829.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Defiant Sudan president in Darfur Sudan leader's warning in Darfur
(about 2 hours later)
Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has arrived in Darfur on his first visit there since an international arrest warrant was issued for him. Sudan's president has issued a warning to peacekeepers, diplomats and aid staff while visting Darfur, in the wake of a war crimes warrant against him.
Mr Bashir, who is accused of war crimes in the region, is visiting the North Darfur state capital of El Fasher. Omar al-Bashir said all foreign missions in Sudan must obey the law or face expulsion, as he visited the North Darfur capital of El Fasher.
Mr Bashir was greeted by thousands of flag-waving supporters, many riding camels and horses.
Correspondents described the trip as a calculated show of defiance.Correspondents described the trip as a calculated show of defiance.
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. The UN estimates that 300,000 people have died and 2.7 million displaced in Darfur, since black African rebels took up arms in 2003 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. Analysts say Mr Bashir placed 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.
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. We will kick them out directly President Bashir class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/7926813.stm">Dance of defiance class="" href="/1/hi/world/africa/3496731.stm">Q&A: Darfur conflict
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.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.
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. 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 cheering supporters.
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. Waving flags and pictures of the president, the crowd chanted his name, as well as slogans against International Criminal Court (ICC) prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo and the West.
'Thieves and spies' Mr Bashir warned foreign peacekeepers, diplomats and aid workers to obey Sudanese law or face expulsion.
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. "I have a message to all the diplomatic missions in Sudan, the non-governmental organisations and the peacekeepers," he said.
They have to come to our land to fight us themselves President Bashir "They have to respect the rule of the country. If anyone goes further than the rule of the country, we will kick them out directly."
He danced in front of supporters from South Sudan, wearing a traditional feathered head-dress and colourful beads. On Saturday in the capital, Mr Bashir described as "thieves" and "spies" the 13 aid agencies he kicked out following the ICC indictment.
Mr Bashir accused aid groups of taking "99% of the budget for humanitarian work themselves, and giving the people of Darfur 1%".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 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.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.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. International divisions
"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. The UN Security Council, at its first meeting since the arrest warrant was issued, failed on Saturday to agree on a statement asking Sudan to reverse the decision to expel the aid agencies.
'Abusing hospitality'
Khartoum's UN ambassador has 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.
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.
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, which buys Sudan's oil and sells it weapons, 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.