President Al-Bashir Arrives in Western Darfur City of Junaynah

At 0930 gmt, Sudan TV shown footage of President Umar Hasan al- Bashir arriving in a gathering in Junaynah, Southern Darfur State. The TV was earlier showing a large number of people who had been waiting to receive President Al-Bashir. The TV is showing people holding up banners with words supporting President Al-Bashir. Music praising Sudan is being played at the venue. President Umar Hasan Al- Bashir arrived atop a pick-up truck. The crowd went cheering and chanting pro-Al-Bashir slogans as he stood for while to acknowledge greetings from people before sitting down.

Al-Bashir is expected to inaugurate several developmental projects in Junaynah.

The Sudan TV reporter, earlier, interviewed a number of local leaders and officials from western Darfur, who all pledged their support for Al-Bashir and rejected the move by the ICC prosecutor to issue warrant arrest for Al-Bashir.

Originally published by Sudan TV, Omdurman, in Arabic 0930 24 Jul 08.

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