The 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.
Beshir, 65, on Wednesday became the first sitting president to be issued with an ICC arrest warrant, facing five counts of "crimes against humanity and two of war crimes."
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.
Many Sudanese fear the warrant against Beshir -- who has repeatedly dismissed any international action against him as a Western plot -- could plunge Africa's largest country into further chaos.
PHOTO CAPTION
Sudanese President Omar Al-Beshir (centre) attends a mass demonstration in Khartoum.
Agencies