Sudanese President Omer al- Bashir started on Monday a previously unannounced visit to Eritrea, which is the first visit for the Sudanese president abroad since the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued an arrest warrant against him earlier this month.

The official Eritrean Television aired a footage that the Sudanese president was received at the Asmera Airport by his Eritrean counterpart Isayas Afewerki.

No comment has been made by Sudanese officials on the surprising visit.

It has not been expected that the Sudanese president would fly out of the Sudanese territorial sky especially in light of a mounting public rejection of the Sudanese political and religious circles for al-Bashir's travel abroad.

A fatwa (religious advice) issued by the powerful council of the Sunni religious advisories said that it was not legitimate for al-Bashir to leave the country in view of the effects of the ICC proceedings.

Local observers said that the sudden visit of President al- Bashir to Eritrea aimed to deliver a message to the international community that the ICC arrest warrant would not limit the activity of the Sudanese president outside his country.

The Sudanese capital Khartoum has in the past two days witnessed protests and demonstrations calling on President al- Bashir to cancel travels abroad, including his plan to attend the annual Arab summit scheduled in Doha at the end of this month.

The Sudanese authorities have indicated that it had not taken a final decision so far on the participation of President al-Bashir in the Doha summit, and said that the matter was subject to careful consideration by a commission which was formed for this purpose.

(Xinhua News Agency March 23, 2009)