Sudanese President Bashir visits Darfur

KHARTOUM, Sudan, July 23 (UPI) -- Sudanese President Omar Hassan al-Bashir is visiting Darfur, a week after an international court accused him of war crimes in the region.

Bashir, officials and ambassadors will visit several aid projects in the violence-torn region, giving the leader a chance to show concern Darfur and counter accusations of genocide from the International Criminal Court, the BBC reported Wednesday.

He is expected to participate in several ceremonies during his visit.

International Criminal Court Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo sought an arrest warrant against Bashir, charging him with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes. Moreno-Ocampo accused Bashir of running a campaign against Darfur that killed 135,000 people and forced 2.5 million to flee their homes.

Sudanese officials said they don't recognize the ICC or its decisions.

The African Union has called for the U.N. Security Council to suspend the ICC's deliberations on whether to issue an arrest warrant for the Sudanese leader, while the Arab League said the indictment sets a dangerous precedent, the British broadcaster said. The ICC is under the auspices of the United Nations.

The African Union supplies most of the 9,000 peacekeepers in Darfur.