Johannesburg  - South African Foreign Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma on Thursday called the International Criminal Court's (ICC) decision to issue a warrant for the arrest of Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir "regrettable."

The ICC On Wednesday issued a warrant for al-Bashir's arrest on charges of crimes against humanity and war crimes.

"In the light of the decision of the ICC on Wednesday, South Africa concurs with the African Union's initial response that the ICC's decision is regrettable as it will impact negatively on the current peace processes in the Sudan," Dlamini-Zuma said in a statement.

While South Africa had "never countenanced any acts of impunity" it had supported the AU's calls for the warrant to be deferred by a year, she said.

South Africa would await the outcome of the AU's discussions on the matter before announcing its own "comprehensive response" to the warrant.

Former South African president Thabo Mbeki had been leading the AU's efforts to try to stave off the issuing of the arrest warrant. (dpa)