KARTHOUM - President Bashir said Sudan had a record of defeating colonialists Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir has angrily rejected the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against him.

Mr Bashir told cheering supporters at a protest in the capital that Sudan would not "kneel" to colonialists.

He said he defied outsiders to come to Sudan and talk about human rights.

He is accused of two counts of war crimes and five of crimes against humanity in Darfur, in the first such warrant for a serving head of state.

Mr Bashir, 65, told thousands of people in the city's Martyrs Square: "We are telling the colonialists we are not succumbing; we are not submitting; we will not kneel; we are targeted because we refuse to submit."

Sudan reacted to Wednesday's ICC indictment by reaffirming it had no intention of handing over its leader and promptly expelling 10 foreign aid agencies.

Thursday's rally in the capital was the latest show of public support for Sudan's veteran leader.

He said the ICC, together with the UN Security Council and the International Monetary Fund, were trying to "colonise people anew and steal their resources".

On Wednesday, the ICC accused Mr Bashir of responsibility for a campaign of extermination, rape and pillage during the six-year Darfur conflict.