In pictures: Khartoum protests

Thousands of people have taken to the streets of the Sudanese capital, Khartoum, after the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant for President Omar al-Bashir

The crowds chanted "we love you" to their president, who has been charged with war crimes and crimes against humanity over the conflict in Dafur.

Some of the protesters singled out ICC prosecutor Luis Moreno-Ocampo for criticism, calling him a "tool of the West" and burning pictures of him.

Many Sudanese believe the arrest warrant is part of a plot by Western powers to destabilise their country.

Others are concerned that arresting Mr Bashir could derail the country's attempts to recover from a conflict estimated to have left 300,000 people dead and millions displaced.

The government has promised to protect foreigners in the country and security has been increased around foreign embassies and UN offices.

Mr Bashir is the first serving state leader to be charged by the ICC, but has dismissed the long-expected warrant as "not worth the ink" it was written with.

But despite the large turn-out, Mr Bashir does not have the support of all Sudanese, with many believing he should face justice for the crimes he is alleged to have committed.