Thousands of demonstrators flocked to the streets of the Sudanese capital Khartoum yesterday in support of President al-Bashir, who is expected today to become the first head of state to be indicted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes.

The protesters, many waving anti-Western placards, gathered outside an office where Mr al-Bashir was chairing an emergency meeting. The ICC's prosecution will present evidence in The Hague today of his alleged complicity in atrocities in Darfur, Sudan's rebellious western province.

Sudan does not recognise the ICC, and has given warning that the case could stall peace talks. Its ruling National Congress Party called the case against Mr al-Bashir “irresponsible cheap political blackmail” and said that there would be “more violence and blood” in Darfur if the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Mr al-Bashir.

Mahjoub Fadul Badry, a Sudanese government spokesman, said that the indictment of Mr Bashir would violate the country's sovereignty. “If an international organisation or the organisations working in the humanitarian field are behind such an indictment of the head of state, our symbol of national sovereignty, then no one should expect us to turn our left cheek,” he said.

The demonstrators chanted “Down, down USA!” and slogans in support of the ruling party. “With our souls, with our blood we die for Bashir”, they vowed as they marched towards the United Nations offices.

Such government-organised demonstrations are common in Sudan which has one of the worst human rights records in the world and where opposition marches are not tolerated. The UN is blamed for the accusations against Mr al-Bashir because of its peacekeeping efforts in Darfur.

“The ICC does just what the European Union, the United States of America and Israel tell it to do,” the protesters said in a statement delivered to the UN.

Abdel Basit Sabderat, Sudan's Justice Minister, said that the ICC, which threatens to issue a warrant for the Sudanese leader's arrest, was playing with fire. “[The] ICC is not just targeting the President of the country, but the stability of the Sudanese people because the President represents the nation,” he told the crowd. Most of the protesters were government workers or from unions linked to the ruling party. Awad Ahmed, 53, a worker from the Agriculture Ministry, said: “The Sudanese people are all rejecting this - this is America targeting Sudan. We will not send Bashir. We would die first.”

Mr al-Bashir is blamed for unleashing Arab militias against largely black African tribesmen who started an armed rebellion in the province in 2003 in support of greater autonomy.

The UN estimates that about 300,000 people have been killed, with more than one million made homeless and crammed into government-run detention camps.

The African Union (AU) has also expressed concern over reports that war crimes charges might be brought against members of the Sudanese Government. In a statement issued on Saturday, the AU “expressed its strong conviction that the search for justice should be pursued in a way that does not impede or jeopardise efforts aimed at promoting lasting peace”.

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