Sudanese President Omar al- Bashir on Sunday arrived in Fashir, capital city of North Darfur state, on his first visit to the restive region in western Sudan since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him Wednesday.

The president, accompanied by Sudanese officials, diplomats and about 10 foreign reporters, arrived at the fashir airport on a chartered airplane, where he was received by high-level local officials and representatives of the local tribes.

Bashir later showed up at a rally that was attend by tens of thousands of people on a square at the city center.

Holding banners and pictures of the president, representatives of local political parties, legislature and mass organizations delivered anti-ICC speeches and chanted slogans in support of the embattled president.

(Xinhua News Agency March 8, 2009)