Sudanese officials are also portraying the court case against Bashir as an affront to African sovereignty. Khartoum's pro-government Sudan Vision newspaper said recently that Bashir's prosecution marked a "new post-colonial period" by an "evil triangle" consisting of the U.S., Britain and France.
American and French officials have hinted that they might veto efforts in the Security Council to delay the case. Under the court's statute, the council may vote to suspend prosecution of a case for a year. Sudan is hoping allies China and Russia would support such a move.
Meanwhile, at home, Sudan is reaching out to opposition groups and orchestrating regular demonstrations against the International Criminal Court, or ICC.
On Wednesday, Bashir made a rare visit to Darfur, where he was scheduled to meet with local officials and tribal leaders. The two-day tour is meant to highlight government claims that violence in the region is declining and that displaced people -- estimated at more than 2 million -- are returning to their villages, though aid workers privately dispute such characterizations. Sudanese television ran shots of cheering crowds greeting the president in the town of El Fasher. Locals said the reception was largely by government employees, soldiers and students.
"He's trying to show the world that he supports the people of Darfur, but the people know the truth," said Khalil Adam Abdulkarim, a former government minister who quit several years ago after his home village was attacked by government troops.
"People in Darfur were very happy to see the ICC warrants," he said. "The only ones crying now for Bashir are those who are benefiting from him."
In the international arena, Sudan is moving quickly to shore up support from neighbors. Last week it announced that it would restore diplomatic ties with neighbor Chad, a longtime rival that Sudan has accused of supporting Darfur rebels.
Even Eritrea, which has often criticized Bashir's government and shelters several Sudanese rebel groups, voiced support for its neighbor, calling the ICC case "an insult" and "harassment" from Western powers.
Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki, after meeting with a Sudanese envoy this week, said Bashir should not be "subjected to legal recourse in courts that may not have an understanding of the conflict."
He warned that any moves to isolate Bashir's government would be "counterproductive."
Support from African governments is not surprising, said Ali, the former rebel leader.
"It's not for love of Bashir or Sudan," he said. "Many of those leaders have too many skeletons in their own closet. Today it's Bashir, tomorrow it might be one of them."
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edmund.sanders@latimes.com
