President Bashir of Sudan

Sudan's military dictator was accused of "genocide" and "crimes against humanity" when the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court held him responsible for Darfur's bloodshed.

President Omar al-Bashir, who seized power in a military coup 19 years ago, is the first serving head of state ever to face proceedings at the ICC in The Hague.

Luis Moreno-Ocampo, the Court's chief prosecutor, accused Mr Bashir of three counts of "genocide", five of "crimes against humanity" and two of "war crimes".

Mr Bashir responded by saying he did not recognise the court and denied committing war crimes. "From the beginning we said we are not a member of the court... the court has no jurisdiction over Sudan," he said, in his first public reaction to the indictment. "Whoever has visited Darfur, met officials and discovered their ethnicities and tribes... will know that all of these things (including ethnic cleansing) are lies."

All of the alleged offences were committed during the war in Sudan's western region of Darfur, which has claimed at least 300,000 lives. Black African rebels began the fighting in 2003 when they rose against Mr Bashir's Arab-dominated regime.

In response, Mr Bashir's forces raised Arab militias, widely known as the "Janjaweed", or "demons on horseback", and turned them on innocent civilians from the tribes who had provided rebel fighters.

The Fur, Zaghawa and Masalit tribes were the main victims. Hundreds of their villages were razed and more than two million people forced into squalid refugee camps.

During the hearing in The Hague, Mr Moreno-Ocampo said this amounted to "genocide".

"He [Mr Bashir] wants to end the history of the Fur, Masalit and Zaghawa people. I don't have the luxury to look away. I have evidence," said Mr Moreno-Ocampo. "His motives were largely political. His alibi was counter-insurgency. His intent was genocide."

The Prosecutor's office added: "Bashir masterminded and implemented a plan to destroy in substantial part the Fur, Zaghawa and Masalit groups on account of their ethnicity."

Mr Moreno-Ocampo argued that this met the legal definition of "genocide". However, this is a controversial view of Darfur's conflict.

Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International have both reported that Darfur's killings do not amount to "genocide" because the crucial element of an intention to eradicate a given ethnic group has not been proven.

But Mr Moreno-Ocampo said that forcing civilians to flee into refugee camps scattered across Darfur's arid landscape was proof of Mr Bashir's "intent to commit genocide".

The Prosecutor said: "He did not need bullets. He used other weapons: rape, hunger and fear. As efficient, but silent."

Sudanese forces and their "Janjaweed" allies have been accused of mass rape. Mr Moreno-Ocampo quoted one victim as saying: "When we see them, we run. Some of us succeed in getting away and some are caught and taken to be raped – gang-raped. Maybe around 20 men rape one woman. These things are normal for us here in Darfur. These things happen all the time."

In yesterday's hearing before three judges from the ICC's "pre-trial chamber", Mr Moreno-Ocampo applied for Mr Bashir to be formally charged and an arrest warrant issued in the president's name. The judges will probably take two or three months to decide on this request.

If they agree, Mr Bashir with be indicted on all or some of the ten counts. The judges could, however, rule that the evidence is insufficient and dismiss the case.

Whatever happens, Sudan does not recognise the ICC and has vowed never to surrender any suspects for trial. Carefully organised demonstrations in support of Mr Bashir have taken place in Khartoum, with protesters waving placards denouncing Mr Moreno-Ocampo, a senior Argentine lawyer, as a "criminal".

Mr Bashir may respond by increasing the pressure on the international aid effort, which presently supports at least 2.5 million people in Darfur. By refusing visas for foreign aid workers and closing roads to supply convoys, he could steadily shut down relief work.

With tension growing, the United Nations mission in the country has told Sudanese officials it will start pulling all its non-essential staff out of Darfur.

Its decision came after the deputy speaker of parliament Mohammed al-Hassan al-Ameen said on state television that the safety of UN workers could not be guaranteed.

A new peacekeeping force jointly deployed by the United Nations and the African Union is desperately under strength, with only 9,000 of its 26,000 troops and civilians in Darfur. Mr Bashir could obstruct the arrival of more forces.

This will create more suffering among Darfur's people. Mr Bashir will blame this on the West.