"The Dictator" Sacha Baron Cohen enters Cannes on a camel

(CBS/AP) "The Dictator" knows how to make a scene.

Sacha Baron Cohen's comedy character General Aladeen turned up at the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday with two of his model bodyguards and a camel.

The comedian held a press conference outside his hotel, where he was flanked by two female faux-soldiers. A camel was led to him, which he (with some trouble) mounted and then rode down the Croisette to apparently take in some shopping.

As he slowly made his way down the street, Baron Cohen was mobbed by dozens of photographers, bringing traffic to a halt and drawing the attention of police.

"Relax, no pressure," Baron Cohen told the crowd of photographers and reporters, according to Reuters. "I'm a dictator! I don't want anyone to get hurt."

After a short ride, Baron Cohen turned around and returned to the hotel - possibly to strike again later.

Such a stunt, while certainly unique, isn't uncommon at Cannes, where movies often go to extremes to catch the eye of the world's media.

"The Dictator" is currently in theaters.

Check out Baron Cohen in Cannes: