WORLD BRIEFING / SUDAN

The Sudanese president traveled to Eritrea, choosing one of Africa’s most politically isolated nations for his first trip abroad since an international court sought his arrest on charges of war crimes in Sudan’s Darfur region.

Eritrean television showed live coverage of President Omar Hassan Ahmed Bashir being greeted at the airport in the Eritrean capital, Asmara, by President Isaias Afwerki, along with drummers and dancers. Sudanese state television later showed live images of Bashir returning to Khartoum, Sudan’s capital.

Sudanese Foreign Minister Deng Alor said the visit reflected Eritrean “solidarity . . . with Sudan against the ICC.” Eritrean Information Minister Ali Abdu said Bashir was accompanied by heads of security and intelligence and was there to discuss regional security.

Bashir’s government has been accused of unleashing Arab militiamen known as janjaweed against Darfur civilians.