Powell to get tough on Sudan

2004-06-28 10:53

Matthew Lee

Washington - US Secretary of State Colin Powell will be carrying a decidedly tough message when he makes a landmark visit to Sudan this week to press Khartoum to ease the worsening crisis in Darfur.

Alarmed by reports of ethnic cleansing, that some say constitutes "genocide", and deteriorating humanitarian conditions in the strife-torn western region, Powell will tell Sudanese officials they could face new sanctions unless the situation improves, US officials say.

On Friday, the State Department said US travel and financial penalties will be imposed on leaders of Darfur's pro-Khartoum Janjawid militias and identified seven individuals for possible war crimes prosecution.

When he arrives in Khartoum on Tuesday, Powell will warn Sudanese leaders that they could be similarly targeted, not only by Washington but also by the United Nations, according to US officials.

"His message will be clear," one official said on Sunday. "Act or face the consequences."

UN chief Kofi Annan will be in Sudan at the same time as Powell and the official said Washington is prepared to lead a charge in the UN Security Council for a new resolution condemning Khartoum for its actions in Darfur.

Annan and Powell have been clear that they intend to bring international pressure and attention to bear on Khartoum even as the eyes of much of the world will be focused on Iraq's return to self-rule.

"This is a catastrophe and it is incumbent on the international community to come together solidly to do everything we can to bring it to an end to bring relief to these desperate people," Powell said last week.

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 the 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.

On Sunday, US national security advisor Condoleezza Rice accused the Janjawid of perpetrating "horrible things" on the people of Darfur and said the United States was working with Libya, among other nations, to try to improve humanitarian access to the region.

Powell's trip will be the highest-level US visit to Sudan in more than two decades and officials noted ironically that were it not for the souring of ties over Darfur, his message might have been far less blunt.

The United States maintains an embassy in Khartoum, but has not had an ambassador there for six years.

- AFP