Khartoum - Thousands of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir's supporters gathered in the capital Khartoum on Wednesday as the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for the 65-year-old leader for his role in atrocities in the country's western Darfur region.

Supporters shouted "God is great" and "With our souls and our blood we defend you, al-Bashir." They also carried banners that read, "Shame, shame, Ocampo is an ass."

The Sudanese government considers decision by the court in The Hague as "neo-colonialism," according to the Al-Arabiya news channel.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Yusuf Ali told Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa that al-Bashir would attend an Arab summit in Qatar later this month despite the international arrest warrant.

The 65-year-old al-Bashir would travel to all the conferences to which he is invited, including those of the African Union and the Organization of Islamic Conference, Ali said.

ICC chief prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo earlier Wednesday said the Sudanese government was obliged under international law to execute the warrant. The court issued the warrant for crimes against humanity and war crimes, but did not grant Moreno-Ocampo's request for a count of genocide.

Al-Bashir, a former military officer, led the coup to overthrow the government in 1989 and was elected president in 1996. (dpa)