Beirut  - The Lebanese Shiite movement Thursday hit out at the International Criminal Court's decision to issue an arrest warrant against Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir.

The group, Hezbollah, which is backed by Syria and Iran, said "the timing of the warrant, after the reconciliation over the Darfur crisis, was an obvious attempt to worsen circumstances in the region.

"It would also threaten Sudan's sovereignty and territorial integrity through promoting separation."

The party said the court's decision "provides further evidence of the international community's bias and politicization." (dpa)