The Hague - The International Criminal Court (ICC) on Wednesday announced the issuing of a warrant of arrest for Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity in Darfur.
The ICC judges were responding to a request by the court's Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno Ocampo for an arrest warrant for President Bashir on charges of war crimes in the Darfur region of western Sudan.
President Bashir will now become the first sitting head of state to be hauled before the ICC since the court opened in 2002.
The President Bashir has dismissed the charges at a rally on Tuesday, telling his supporters that the court should "eat" the arrest warrant.
The African Union had urged the United Nations Security Council to suspend the arrest warrant against the Sudanese president contending that workers of international bodies could be in jeopardy.
President Bashir's government is accused of playing a key planning role in the Darfur conflict, which has killed some 300 000 and displaced 2.5 million civilians over the past five years.
Some political analysts fear workers of international organizations in Sudan may be harmed if the ICC issues the arrest warrant.
The southern Sudan leader Salva Kiir had earlier on Wednesday appealed for calm and stability in the Africa's largest country.
In a statement issued in Nairobi on Wednesday, Mr Kiir who is also Sudan's Vice-President said the Sudanese should not view the ICC move as a crisis but rather as an opportunity to consolidate peace, justice and stability in the country.
Mr Kiir called on the Sudanese to continue championing peace by protecting every citizens and foreigners in the country amid fears of retaliation against a joint African Union-UN peacekeeping force.
"The announcement may not mark the end of the ICC issue. This matter may hang on for sometime but it certainly will not mean the end of our country, the Sudan or government. We must move beyond tomorrow," Kiir said in a statement.
"I trust that our armed forces and law enforcement agencies shall respect the basic rights of the people, maintain law and order and uphold and abide by the constitution," Kiir said in a statement.
Tensions were reportedly high in Sudan ahead of the ICC's decision. Khartoum has vowed to protect foreign missions and UN staff but warned that it may not be able to control reactions by outlaws.
The African Union and the Arab League also warned that the anouncement could destabilize the region, worsen the Darfur conflict and threaten an already troubled peace deal between northern Sudan and the semi-autonomous south.
Some western embassies warned their citizens of the potential for violent protests.
