Omar al-Bashir, Sudan’s president, was given a red carpet welcome as he arrived in Qatar on Sunday, defying an international arrest warrant to attend an Arab League summit.

A smiling Mr Bashir, who has been indicted by the International Criminal Court on war crimes charges, was greeted at Doha airport by the emir of Qatar, who warmly embraced the Sudanese leader with a kiss on each cheek in a traditional Arab greeting.