Sudan's President Omar al-Bashir will not visit Turkey on Monday for an Organisation of the Islamic Conference summit being held in Istanbul.

The International Criminal Court in The Hague has issued an arrest warrant for the Sudanese president. He is accused of war crimes and crimes against humanity in Sudan's Darfur province.

Turkey hopes to join the EU and was under strong European pressure not to allow Mr al-Bashir to enter the country.

The Sudanese leader has recently visited a number of African countries which have refused to arrest him, rejecting the ICC warrant.

photo: Omar al-Bashir (EPA)