Sudan's President pledges peace

He is the first head of state accused by International Criminal Court prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo on 10 counts of war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in Sudan’s western region of Darfur, gripped by more than five years of war.

He faces a possible international arrest warrant for allegedly ordering his forces to annihilate three non-Arab groups in Darfur, masterminding murder, torture, pillaging and using rape to commit genocide.

Bashir spent two days dancing and talking about peace to thousands of supporters, promising to do whatever possible to allow the displaced to return home but giving no specifics on his first visit to Darfur in a year.

“We don’t need lessons from anyone. We don’t need to be told how to behave. Peace is the responsibility of Darfuris,” he said in El Geneina, adding he had come to Darfur to “share the pain” of the people and listen to their requests.