Posted on 09/17/2006 1:51:39 AM PDT by rightgrafix
Protesters demanding an end to conflict in Sudan's Darfur region are staging a day of demonstrations around the world.
Activists will rally in several capital cities, calling on the government in Khartoum to allow United Nation peacekeepers into Darfur.
Khartoum has dismissed the protests, saying those taking part have been misled by the international media.
Tens of thousands of people have died and up to two million have been displaced in three years of conflict.
The US and France have both said a genocide is taking place in Darfur, with the US directly accusing Khartoum of responsibility.
On Saturday UK Prime Minister Tony Blair wrote to leaders of the European Union, calling the situation in Darfur "unacceptable" and urging them to take a common stand on the issue.
'Misunderstanding'
Protests on Sunday were due to begin in London with a rally outside the Sudanese embassy.
Demonstrators were expected to march to Downing Street for a multi-faith prayer vigil.
Rallies are expected to take place in some 30 cities around the world.
Among those involved are the South African Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Canadian General Romeo Dallaire, who headed the UN peacekeeping force in Rwanda during that country's genocide in 1994.
Speaking ahead of the protests, Sudan's junior foreign minister, Ali Kati, insisted the demonstrators were misunderstanding the situation in Darfur.
"Unfortunately, the people there in the West, in Europe and the United States are moved by the media and the media is unfortunately moved by political agendas," he said.
The BBC's Mark Doyle says the government in Khartoum says it is defending the territorial integrity of Sudan against rebels backed by neighbouring Chad.
Peacekeeper threat
But Steve Ballinger, a spokesman for Amnesty International, rejected Mr Kati's interpretation of events.
"The situation is dire already in Darfur, and it is only going to get worse when the African Union troops leave at the end of this month, unless the UN peacekeeping mission is allowed back in."
Seven thousand African Union peacekeeping troops are due to leave Darfur at the end of August, but Khartoum has refused to allow UN peacekeepers to take their place.
The government has stressed that any UN troops entering Darfur would be met with armed resistance.
On Saturday 1,000 volunteers from a pro-government militia marched through the streets of Khartoum threatening to kill any uninvited UN visitors, the BBC's Jonah Fisher reports from the city.
Violence in the region is reported to be rising again, drawing criticism from figures as diverse as the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and actor George Clooney, who this week implored the UN Security Council to act.
HMMM ALWAYS SOMETHING THEY WANT US TO PULL OUT OF IRAQ AND YET THEY WANT US TO SEND TROOPS TO THE SUDAN AND I MAY ASK WHAT DOSE THE SUDAN HAVE? THEY HAVE OIL!
lol me too
lol me too
Well if the US goes in, then the whole Sudan/Darfor situation can be blamed on us instead of the Sudanese.
Hotel Rwanda meet Motel Dafur.
Oil and terrorists. Didn't Patty "Tennis Balls For Brains" Murray tell us Osama built daycare centers in Sudan?
Oil and terrorists. Didn't Patty "Tennis Balls For Brains" Murray tell us Osama built daycare centers in Sudan?
the loons wer eout in central parkk today with their cute UN blue berets and yellow t-shirts
troops in Darfur, but not in Iraq of course
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.