'Powell must warn Sudanese'

2004-06-29 08:26

Washington - An international human rights group has urged US Secretary of State Colin Powell to make it clear to the Sudanese authorities that the international community will protect the civilians in Darfur if the Sudanese government fails to do so.

"The Sudanese government's campaign of ethnic cleansing in Darfur is the root cause of this humanitarian crisis," said Jemera Rone, Sudan researcher for the Africa Division of Human Rights Watch. "Powell should press the Sudanese authorities to reverse this ethnic cleansing and permit full humanitarian access."

Powell was to arrive in Khartoum on Tuesday for talks with Sudanese leaders.

At least 10 000 people have been killed and up to a million displaced in Darfur since black African rebels rose up in February 2003, accusing the Islamic government in Khartoum of discrimination and neglect.

The government responded by giving pro-Khartoum Janjawid militias free rein and they have been accused of conducting a scorched earth campaign in the fight against the rebel Justice and Equality Movement and the Sudan Liberation Movement.

"Only by addressing the human rights crisis can the United States and United Nations hope to solve the humanitarian disaster," Rone said.

- AFP