Ocampo asked the court for an arrest warrant for al-Bashir, who is the most senior figure pursued by the court since it was set up in 2002. But Malwal said Sudan refuses "any interference in its internal affairs, any political blackmail and pressures."

"Colonial powers seek to cut Sudan into pieces in their own ways. They do not want the country to play a constructive role in resolving the conflict in Darfur. We are ready to find resolution to the Darfur conflict but arresting Bashir is like overthrowing the government of Sudan," he charged.

The presidential advisor warned that any arrest of al-Bashir may result in the landmark north-south peace agreement, which was signed in Nairobi in 2005 after many years of protracted negotiations, not being implemented.

"If you arrest al-Bashir today and somebody else comes and doesn't recognize the CPA. Who will implement the CPA", asked Malwal.

He said Sudan's courts are investigating allegations of war crimes in Darfur and will punish anyone found responsible. The African Union, he said, has also voiced its support to the competence to prosecute alleged war criminals.

"We are saying we will punish impunity. The AU will punish impunity but ICC cannot show Africa how to deal with human rights abuses. We are worried that somebody is determined to undermine all the achievements Sudan has made over the years by imposing unnecessary indictment," he said.

"If al-Bashir is arrested today, let me warn the international community that there would be no end to civil war in the Sudan. We are ready to negotiate with 32 rebel movements in Sudan but not through the Hague," Malwal said.

On Monday Sudan won AU council's support in rejecting the ICC's planned indictment. Malwal said that African leaders were concerned that more leaders on the continent may face similar charges from ICC and courts from other countries.