Thousands of people took the streets of Sudan's tense capital Sunday in a carefully choreographed protest against the expected request for an arrest warrant on war crimes charges for Sudan's president, Omar al-Bashir, by the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court Monday.

Students and members of the ruling National Congress Party were bussed into central Khartoum, where they waved banners denouncing the I.C.C. and the United Nations. Sudan's government met in an emergency cabinet meeting to discuss how to respond to the announcement of a request for an arrest warrant for Mr. Bashir, who has ruled Sudan since taking power in a military coup nearly 20 years ago.