Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir has threatened to expel diplomats, peacekeepers and more aid agencies in a continued show of defiance against critics and the International Criminal Court.
Mr. Bashir spoke Sunday during his first visit to Darfur since the court said it was seeking his arrest for alleged war crimes in the region.
Thousands of supporters cheered the Sudanese president at a rally in El Fasher, the capital of North Darfur state. Many in the crowd carried signs and chanted slogans denouncing ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo.
Sudan has shut down 13 foreign aid agencies since Thursday, when the ICC issued its arrest warrant. Officials accuse the aid groups of working with the ICC - an allegation the groups have denied.
United Nations officials have asked to Sudan to reverse its decision, saying the expulsions will leave millions without adequate food, water, or health care.
ICC judges say Mr. Bashir was behind a campign of murder, rape, torture, and other crimes against civilians in Darfur, where the Sudanese government has been fighting rebels since 2003.
Sudan denies the accusations and has refused to cooperate with the court.
The country's supporters, including China, Russia and Egypt, have called on the U.N. Security Council to postpone the court's case against Mr. Bashir. The council has the power to do so under a clause in the ICC charter.
Darfur rebels began an uprising against Sudan's government in 2003. The United Nations says the fighting and related violence have killed more than 200,000 people. Sudan puts the death toll much lower, at about 10,000.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and Reuters.
